The biting atmosphere in this compact space was sinister, so much in fact that I clung tightly to Zero for support.

"How did you know about this place?" I wasn't sure exactly why, but this gloomy residence seemed to bring out the worst in me. It made me feel like balling my eyes out, like screaming, like tearing the place to shreds and burning it to ashes without a single regret.

It was very untidy; dust was collected in every corner, on every archaic bookshelf, every piece of torn furniture. It was as if the people who lived here before we came had had the same feeling I did. I ran my slender fingers across the line of novels, pausing as I eyed a dull golden one; flickering lights filled my head, forming into shapes, then fading like a switch was pulled. The same thing began to occur as I walked around with sealed lips, like some deja-vu or nostalgia spell was cast on me.

"A few months ago, before you came to the academy, I was so famished for human blood that I went out to hunt one night...luckily, I didn't end up tearing anyone to shreds." He explained, running his hand through his ruffled hair.

"I see." I replied.

"I found this place during that time. And now, with the way things are going, I thought that the best option was to bring you somewhere isolated where no hunter or vampire could find you."

"So you assume they will do something terrible to me if we were to go back?"

"Most likely. With the about of power you have, it wouldn't surprise me. It's best if we stay hidden. We're here for each other."

He hugged me gently, planting a soft kiss on my face. I responded with another kiss, this time against his lips. In that moment we both began passionately smooching, my arms wrapped around his neck, his hands skimming under my clothes and across my skin, the feeling overwhelmingly pleasant; the taste of his mouth was almost intoxicating.

"Zero..." I breathed, unlinking my fingers from his and suddenly collapsing to the ground with a throbbing pain incinerating me. Breathing in the stale air made me clutch my throat in instant agony; I was ravenous.

"Val, what's wrong!?" He was immediately by my side, grasping my shoulders, my wrists, both sides of my neck. The disco-like flickering and flashing kept tormenting my conscious state, as well as other feelings.

"Don't worry it's...it's just...hunger." But I was worrying. Every time I inhaled I felt like some dagger was stabbing into me.

Zero without hesitation dug his finger nails deep enough into his palm to draw blood, and swiftly pressed it firmly against my heated lips. I knew what he wanted me to do, but for some reason, I didn't feel bad for wanting it. It just felt natural, like every single fear I had for desiring it had washed away.

Something in me had snapped.

Feeling the hot fluid pulse so violently in contact with my heartbeat, my tongue traced its taste, guiltiness subsiding, and my dark side taking over. I tackled Zero to the ground, looming over him dominantly. My fangs began to grow, my lips becoming a snarl, and my inhuman abilities beginning to escape. I felt like my thoughts weren't my own, like I was being possessed by someone, except that wasn't the case...this was all me. That mysterious girl was right. I really am a horrific nightmare. It felt disgustingly good.

I felt some intense wave of power, like I was capable of doing anything I wanted in that moment. Instead of drinking what Zero had supplied, I begged to differ. I lunged straight for his neck; it was anything but romantic, it was brutal, my teeth sinking agonisingly into his skin like a wild animal would after catching it's prey. My objective wasn't to just take what I needed, but to take it all, to suck him dry.

"Val, hey, stop, you're gonna kill me!" Zero was breathing quicker than I was gulping down his blood, my growls only getting louder, my fangs getting deeper, my yearn getting stronger.

Zero was trying to push me off his body now, but his force was absolutely nothing compared to what was growing within me. I didn't need to be bitten to become a vampire.

That instinct was already born inside of me.

Come on now, Val. Play fair. You wouldn't want to kill the one you love, right? It'd be a shame to see you building his grave before the real fun came along.

The voice must of done something to alter my ability to hold Zero down, since he suddenly managed to shove me against the wall. The plaster was so old that it was already covered in tiny cracks.

"Oh my god." I said in realisation, trembling in disbelief, my hands covering my bloodied face. I now know how Zero felt the first day he drank from me. I lost control...Blood was not only splattered on my hands, but stained on Zero's clothes too. I looked like some serial killer on the loose. My eyes were the colour of a rose, but not even close to one's beauty.

"I-I'm a m-monster...S-Stay a-way f-from m-me..." I stuttered. I was starting to become more afraid of myself.

"No, Val, you just need to adopt some self control." He panted on all fours on the ground, his hand covering the bite marks I so foolishly made.

"No. Wrong." I said, my alter-ego beginning to take it's toll again. I tried to hold it back as much as I could, but it sickened me to the core that I didn't have the courage to fight it off any more.

Zero could feel the darkness lurching too.

"I am a freaking monster!" I was screaming now, backing up towards the entrance. I couldn't take this; I was going to hurt him. A part of me wanted to, and if I couldn't fight it, then I had to run from this.

I have to escape.

"Don't leave, Valeria. They're already looking for you...If you go, they will not hesitate ripping your heart out. Please, stay with me. We can work this out together." He was trying so hard, convincing me with everything he had, even using his luminous puppy eyes to his advantage.

"If I stay, your life will be limited. If I leave, you'll be safe. I need to be alone...I need to figure this out myself. I'm doing this for your own good. I'm sorry."

Is it the right thing to abandon him again? Contemplating this made my stomach churn, but it seemed like the only option right now. Staying with him will only get him killed by my own hands...but if I leave with what little sanity I have left, there might be a chance for us both. For now, we need distance, space, reassurance that we can live peacefully without so many obstacles keeping us from playing this so-called game.

"Don't leave me again!" He shouted as I slammed the door behind me.

Young love. So heart wrenching. Watching Val roll the dice like this really makes me want to join in. Maybe now it's time I shed some light on that delicate rose...But only after I crush her shrivelled petals.

I didn't look back, running until I saw a silhouette of a girl in the distance. I came to a halt, her figure metres away from me now. She was absolutely gorgeous, her eyes as bright as the sun, her smile wider than anything I'd ever seen before, her hair in curly locks that fell to the ground just as gracefully as her face.

"Hello. I believe we have met before." Her voice was like a bell chime, like glass, fragile and soft and the kind that rang in your ears minutes after she spoke. Her entire presence was intriguing, yet she was right...I felt like I knew her from somewhere before.

I remembered that I was still covered in blood, yet she didn't seem bothered by it at all, appearing almost thankful as she scanned my wretched being with her chocolate irises.

"Um, hi." I replied, trying to sound as calm as possible. My heart was still beating from the attack.

"My name is Yuki. You and I will have so much fun together."