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Chapter 13~ Betrayal and Trust

"I did my part. Now what about yours?" Hanabusa glared at Rhyl, fury building in him, but the healer made no acknowledgement that he existed.

"Patience. I'll get to it after we get rid of these pests." The other vampire snickered. Hanabusa met his gaze and felt a tremor run through him. This isn't an ordinary vampire. Is he a Pureblood? He wondered, shifting closer to Ariao, who had fallen to unconsciousness from the electricity. The vampire's cobalt blue eyes locked on him, a silent demand to move aside.

For a moment, he was torn. As an aristocrat, he served under Purebloods. But as Ariao's lover, he was bound to protect her, and whoever this vampire was, he definitely meant to harm her. For a moment, the tension thickened in the air, nearly choking him along with the smoke. Then Rhyl stepped forward and whispered something in the man's ear.

"I see. Lover, huh?" Hanabusa shifted slightly closer to Ariao, casting a glance at Akatsuki and Ruka for a bit of help, but he soon realized that they were already under this strange vampire's power. "Then I'll just have to take care of you first." That snapped him out of his indecision. Reaching for what strength he could, he cast out his ice at the vampire.

Rhyl jumped back and the strange vampire vanished before the ice could fully hold them. Sorin let out a snarl and shot off after Rhyl.

A rustle behind him made him spin around, only to see the strange vampire picking up the net with Ariao still tangled in it. "Let her go!" Hanabusa shouted over the roar of the fire, almost upon them now.

"Burn in the flames, aristocrat!" With a loud cackle, the strange vampire vanished.

I had no idea how long I was unconscious, but when I woke, I was tied to a tree outside of Cross Academy. In the distance, I could still see smoke, but it wasn't as bad as it had been before, signaling that the fires were either already out or were close to being put out.

"Awake at last?" I looked over as the mysterious vampire from earlier came forward, one of his eyes now a dark burning crimson. For a moment, relief washed over me at the sight of my brother, and then I paused.

"Nire? What's going on? Why am I tied up like this?" I asked, looking at him. Nire chuckled.

"You don't understand yet?" He asked, taking a few steps closer to me. "I've been after you for so long, waiting for this moment." His eyes gained a malicious gleam. "No…" He said, stopping and holding my chin up so that I was forced to look just above him. "You think I'm here to save you."

"Nire…?" I was puzzled and terrified. What's he…? Before I could think of anything, his fangs grazed my neck. "It's been you? Why?" I whispered, unable to really believe what I was hearing.

"Because I've wanted your ability of foresight for as long as I could remember. I was mad when you up and left on me like that." Nire said darkly. "And when a Pureblood drinks another's blood, they gain their powers." Before I could protest, his fangs met their mark and I stiffened in alarm.

It can't be! He was my protector for so long when we were younger! I closed my eyes, hurt threatening to give way to tears. Is my blood really the thing that will destroy my whole life?!

"I suggest you let her go." I opened my eyes to see Hanabusa glaring with pure hatred in his now crimson eyes. Behind him were Akatsuki, Ruka, and Takuma.

"But I've only just started." Nire chuckled darkly, casting a glance at the four night class students. At that, the air became frigid and ice began to creep around Nire.

"I'll make you pay for every wound you've caused her." Hanabusa growled, eyes flashing as I watched the ice thicken in shock. Before I could make sense of any of it, Nire was gone.

Suddenly, I fell forward onto my knees. Looking back, I saw Rhyl sheath his sword and look away. Before I could say anything, Hanabusa had his arms around me.

"I'm so glad to know you're safe." He whispered shakily into my hair. The tension within me boiled over and I leaned against him and cried. "Everything's alright now. It's over." Hanabusa whispered that over and over as he held me tightly. We stayed like that for a good while, the others just watching silently. When I finally managed to get a hold on my emotions, I pulled back from Hanabusa to look back at Rhyl.

"So you were following my brother?" I asked him. Rhyl looked at me for a moment before looking away again.

"I was originally assigned to Lord Nire, yes." He admitted quietly.

"Wait…that monster was your brother?" Hanabusa asked, looking at me with a mixture of shock and horror.

"Don't worry about it, Hanabusa." I turned to him, kissing him quickly. "You were keeping your promise in the end." He kissed me back, relief showing in his eyes for a moment before I turned back to Rhyl.

"So what do you plan to do from here?" I asked, seeing Sorin come up out of the corner of my eye.

"Unless you wish to relieve me of my duties, I still hold to serve the family." Rhyl came over and lowered himself in front of me. "It's up to you on the matter." I thought for a moment, closing my eyes.

"I've never felt anything but trust with you, but now, my decision isn't the only one that matters." I leaned back against Hanabusa, who wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer. Flipping my head back, I looked at him. "What do you think?"

"If you still feel you can trust him, I say we give him another chance." Hanabusa said, blinking at me.

"You both honor me with such trust." I could hear Rhyl's voice breaking with emotion.

"Just don't forget where you've chosen to serve." Sorin's voice sounded behind us. I could hear the warning in his tone.

"After the chance I've just been given? I'd be stupid not to." Rhyl said, standing.

"We should be heading back now." Takuma said, casting a glance at me. "Do you think you can make it back?" Hanabusa and I looked at each other and smiled.

"I'll be fine." Hanabusa helped me to my feet. "Let's go." With the help of Hanabusa and Sorin, we came upon the dorm just as the sun was rising. Everything was burnt and crumbling from the fires, but still standing for the moment.

"Good, you found her." Kaname came forward, maroon eyes bright.

"It was easy enough once we started to pick up the scent of blood." Akatsuki said, hands in his pockets.

"So everything's settled?" Kaname asked me as Takuma went over to stand behind the Pureblood.

"Yes. There shouldn't be any more problems from them." I said, meeting his gaze as I leaned heavily on Hanabusa.

"Then perhaps now, you can have the peace you deserve." Kaname said softly.

Yes. Perhaps now I can finally be who I've wanted to be. I thought, looking over at Hanabusa. He smiled and kissed me, his lips brushing over mine.

"The peace you've always deserved." He agreed softly.