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Chapter 12~ War
A shiver went through me as the Level E's started to close in on the Moon Dorm. I wasn't so sure if I could really go through with my plan anymore and instinct was telling me to run, to hide, even to just get back into the dorm until either they came to me…or the Moon Dorm crashed to the ground in flames.
"Not another step closer!" I couldn't hold back the gasp and looked down to see Akatsuki and Ruka standing in front of the dorm.
"We won't let you cause any more destruction to this academy." Akatsuki's voice held an edge of menace as he held up a hand covered in flames. It took me a moment to remember that fire was Akatsuki's power. Seeing those two standing side-by-side in front of the dorm, ready to fight for the academy's sake, made up my mind. Giving my head a shake to clear it, I looked over at Sorin and Rhyl.
"It's time." I told them, hearing the hardened edge to my tone. I held out a hand to Sorin and he blinked before pulling out a bow-and-arrow set from under his cloak and handing it to me. Grabbing it, I put two arrows in place on the string and walked over to the edge of the roof.
"A bow? Somehow it suits you." Hanabusa said, coming over to stand beside me again.
"How did I know you'd say that?" I asked, smiling slightly as I took aim at the closest of the Level E's. Just as the former human lunged, I let the arrows fly where they embedded in the mad vampire's shoulders. The Level E let out a screech before fading to ash and blowing away in the boiling air. "How about we give a hand to them?" I asked, nodding to where Akatsuki and Ruka were slowly being surrounded.
"From up here?" Hanabusa asked, blinking owlishly.
"Focus your ice on the arrow right before it lands." I looked at him as I set another arrow in place. "Trust me."
Hanabusa blinked and gave me a quick hug, lips brushing the top of my head. "Always." He whispered before pulling back to give me room.
I closed my eyes for a moment, concentrating on what I wanted to happen: a wave of ice to cover and destroy the Level E's threatening the Moon Dorm. Opening my eyes, I aimed the arrow between Akatsuki and Ruka and let it fly. I saw the two aristocrats jump apart in surprise as the ice began to spread. I stayed long enough to make sure the first of the Level E's were turning to ash before looking at them. "It won't be long, but it should be enough to let us get down there."
"Let's go then." Hanabusa nodded, eyes glowing crimson. I looked over at Sorin and Rhyl, who both nodded, before turning and taking off down the steps. I could hear the rest of them right behind me as we jumped the last of the steps to the second floor. No sooner had I started to head for the parlor, the window exploded, covering us with glass.
"You're mine, half-blood!" The Level E snarled, lunging for where I was. The former human grabbed me before I could set the arrow in place, but Hanabusa was quicker still, already freezing the vampire. With a desperate cry, the Level E shattered.
"You alright?" Hanabusa asked, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I said, struggling to stand. Looking down, I saw some glass shards in my right leg.
"Not with a wound like that, you're not." Hanabusa said sternly, brushing a hand lightly over the ragged wounds. When I couldn't control the wince of pain, he pulled back quickly, eyes wide.
"Right now, there's no time to spare." I said, pushing the pain to the back of my mind as best I could. Hanabusa wrapped my arm around his neck and looked at me.
"Then at least lean on me for support." He said softly, eyes half crimson, half blue with concern. With a soft sigh, I nodded and rested my head against his shoulder for a moment. As we walked, I was leaning on him a bit more than I actually had to, but he didn't say a word about it and neither did I.
"They're getting closer. Within moments, they'll be at the gates to the dorm." Sorin's voice nearly made me lose my footing. I had forgotten that he and Rhyl were still with us!
"We'll just have to hope that they leave soon." I said grimly. I still planned on handing myself over to them, and from the look Hanabusa shot me, I could tell he didn't quite approve of it.
"They should." Rhyl said, keeping one hand on his sword as we entered the grounds outside the Moon Dorm.
"Lady Ariao! What happened?!" I looked over to see Ruka and Akatsuki trot over to us, bot covered in dried blood.
"Level E got through to the dorm." I said, limping a bit away from Hanabusa. "Shattered the window." As I looked around, I almost couldn't believe the strength of the blaze around us, getting closer by the minute. "This is worse than seeing it from above." I whispered, trembling slightly.
"Lady Ariao…!" But the last of what Sorin had been about to say was cut off as a huge net shot from behind a tree. None of us saw it coming through the smoke until the last minute. Whoever had shot the net cannon had an excellent aim, for the only person that wound up under it was me. Once it closed around me, an electric current went through the wires and I buckled, the world spinning.
"Ariao!" Hanabusa ran over and started trying to tug the net off. Dimly, I saw electricity spark around his hands when he tried to pull it off. "We'll have you out soon, just hang on…." At that point, my vision blurred, everything blending together in a mass of colors.
"Not a bad job, Rhyl. Good work in getting her separated like this." I narrowed my eyes trying to focus on the approaching figure as the vampire chuckled darkly.
What's going on here? Was Rhyl a traitor?! I looked in his direction as Hanabusa snarled in front of me.