"I believe it all now." I said amid the scent of melting strawberry candles. I felt really bad for doubting them, especially Kaname.
Zero had been by my side all night, teasing the way my tangled hair looked in the breeze and poking and pushing me when I wouldn't walk fast enough; I would whack him in the gut, hard. He kept glancing at me every now and then too, making sure I wasn't lying about being ok. I was telling the truth though, and that surprised me, since I usually lied about my well being and locked up all those painful, daunting feelings inside.
"Well, that's music to my ears. Now you can be with Kiryu on the disciplinary committee!" Kaien sang happily.
"Excuse me, what?" The amount of burning curiosity that has spun my head in circles the last few days has made me feel completely dumb. I guess I really don't know as much as I thought.
"The disciplinary committee." He repeated.
"Why don't you explain, Zero?"
Zero shot another cold glare at Kaien, then directing his gaze at me, his eyes swirling pools of fiery lilac.
"It's a team of certain students that have a duty to protect the humans in the Day Class from those bloodsucking vermin in the Night Class. I am the only doing it at the moment, ever since..." He trailed off, sticking his hands in his pockets. He seemed like he was being tormented by a few painful memories. I tried not to stare.
"Oh, I get it. But why me, Kaien? Why was I chosen to do this?" I asked.
"Well, Valeria, I don't really know exactly. Kaname suggested this, I just went along with it. Who knows, maybe he has some plan of his own, as all Purebloods do." He babbled on. I was getting frustrated, but my growing curiosity was only going to get myself in dangerous situations. Maybe it's better if I just cut it out and wait for the answers to come to me.
I looked at the blood-stained bandage that was wrapped carefully around my wound. I unravelled the white cotton to reveal nothing but a simple graze. Strange. How did it heal so quickly?
"Excuse me I-I have to go...Somewhere..." Zero said as he bolted out the door. What was up with him? He's suddenly jumpy and sensitive. I should go see if he's alright.
"Yeah, I have something to do too. Bye! And I'm game, Headmaster!" I waved. The hall seemed to go on forever as I ran, thoughts of Zero clouding my mind. As long as I'm with someone like him, I'll fulfil Kaien's wishes.
Despite his idiotic ways, I could see that deep down Zero had a part of him that really cared for people, a soft and gentle side that many people would refuse to recognise. He was cold on the outside, but I knew that he had a reason for pushing people away.
The things we all go through in the past all make us who we are now.
I kept running until I could see the bright amber light of dawn, hearing ragged panting in a nearby hay shed. I passed a grey horse that was nibbling contently on the grass, taking a peek inside the shed. On the dusty ground, sputtering and coughing like a sick child, Zero was writhing in excruciating pain, gasping for precious air.
"Zero!" I screamed, dashing towards him, cupping his face tenderly.
"Piss off!" He spat, throwing me against the metal wall, dull pain shooting through my skull.
"No...not...while...you're...like...this! Tell me what's wrong...so I can help you!" I demanded.
"Don't come any closer. I mean it! I'll hurt you." Zero begged. I refused to listen. I couldn't just leave him here defenceless and weak and in pain!
"You don't understand, Valeria!" His voice was getting louder, harsher, to the point where it was making me tremble.
"Then make me understand!" I replied. I grabbed his wrists, and pushed him as hard as I could, using all the body weight I could muster. Even though I was as thin as a twig, he was against the wall, but not for long; he twisted my arm and whipped me around in a split second, knocking me to the ground and pinning me against the floor. Shit, he was strong.
They have intelligence and power that surpass human understanding.
Why was that sentence from that book popping up in my mind?
I couldn't move. My body was being crushed by his, hypnotised by his eyes.
His eyes...
They were red. Blood red.
No...Is he...A former human...? One who is uncontrollably lusting for blood...? I thought Zero was human. I knew he had problems but I never thought he could have been hiding this secret.
"Zero, you're better than this. Stop. You're not this person. You're kind. You care. Please...Stop...Ow..."
I was shaking under his mercy, starting to lose my breath. His face was planted in the crook of my neck, his tongue running over my flesh again and again, as if he was savouring the moment, as if my blood was something undeniably special.
His fangs grazed my skin, slowly and gently, then fast and rough, until he plunged his fangs into my throat the way a lion would attack it's prey. I was the victim, and Zero was the predator.
I could feel my blood being absorbed by him, my own body begin to weaken from the blood loss.
Suddenly he stopped. Zero almost forcefully threw himself away from me, distancing himself as far away as physically possible.
"Valeria...I..." He mumbled between ragged breathing. Fangs protruded from his lips, blood splattered all over his mouth and down his chin. This is the true nature of a vampire.
"Sorry" was all he could say.
I burst into tears.
"It's ok."