Chapter Seven
She sat in a tree, watching as the rest of the Night Class filed back through the Moon Dorm's gates of secrecy. Their beauty and gracefulness was reflected by the pale moonlight. Donning their white uniforms, Ayama watched them as they moved together in a silent pack, retreating from what was coming from the horizon.
The smell of catacombs and all things dead was left in their wake, causing Ayama to wrinkle her nose. She knew she must have had a scent like theirs, but she didn't enjoy it at all. Humans, she thought, were so vivacious and full of the most magnificent scents. Each one was unique and unlike the other.
The doors to the dorm closed with an echoed clunk and lights beyond plush curtains were lit, shadows dancing across the expensive fabric on all levels of the dorm.
Ayama sighed, knowing Hiroshi was probably fretting about where she was. But, she knew he would understand her need for space, for freedom, however small or temporary.
Staring down at the ground far below, she knew she could easily jump off and not injure herself. Yet, she was scared to jump. So, Ayama swung down her branch, her foot finding another below hers. Slowly, she descended, taking each branch at a time, cursing herself for being too scared to simply jump gracefully, instead of clamoring down.
Ayama hoped one day she would get comfortable with her abilities. The sharp hearing and clear sight was easy enough to get used to, but she knew her gifts went farther than that. She just didn't know if she could get used to them.
"Prowling after hours is forbidden," a stern voice said from behind her.
Startled, Ayama jumped and whirled around. With wide eyes, she stared at the silver haired boy. His scent was unknown to her, his eyes serious and haunting. His eyes were silver, or gray, Ayama couldn't tell. Either way, there was a hint of soft pink within them.
"Did you hear me?" he snapped, sounding puzzled yet annoyed.
Pulling herself back into place, she smiled apologetically, moving her hair out of her face. Feeling twigs and leaves, she felt herself blush, embarrassed that she probably looked so slovenly. She quickly pulled some of the earthly debris out of her hair, as she replied, "Sorry. Yes. I was just taking a midnight walk."
Frowning, Zero responded with, "That doesn't matter. You're not supposed to be out at this time. Once the Night Class is in, they're in until the next evening. I don't care who you are, even if the rumors of you being Kuran's fiancé is true."
Finding herself aggravated by his tone and his rudeness, Ayama sniffed proudly and said, "Fine then. I'll be going. Sorry to trouble you." She turned and began to walk away.
But, he wasn't finished. "And….if you really are his future wife, I suggest you remember my previous warning…."
Ayama swallowed hard, remembering his warning, but she didn't want to think about it.
"And, about Kaname…be careful around him. He always has his own agenda."
Then, a warning sense washed over Ayama. Suddenly she felt aware that they were not alone. Her eyes darted across the forests that stretched out behind Zero. Zero, after scrutinizing her expression, turned slowly.
It wasn't just one person. Ayama could feel the air stir with more than five presences.
Zero whipped a gun out, connected to him through a metal chain which tethered to his belt. She could feel the danger of the weapon, feel the ominous vibes around it and how it was designed to kill her kind.
But there was a rustling sound from within the dark trees. Ayama heard a twig crack, and her attention was no longer wondering about his gun. "There are many." Her heart beat rapidly. Who was coming? Why?
They came from the trees slowly, walking silently. Vampires. They were all vampires, and older ones at that. Most of them wore black, some even had cloaks. She couldn't see their eyes, but she could feel them. Zero immediately aimed his gun at them, a fierce scowl masking his face.
"Get the hell away from here, vampires," Zero hissed.
Carefully, she stepped next to him, whispering, "No. Don't."
A crease formed between his brows as he twirled to face her, changing his aim from the intruders to her. "What are you saying?" he shouted. "They are trespassers!"
The group of seven, within a blink of an eye, had Ayama surrounded. Zero stumbled backwards, confused, yet he kept his gun at the ready.
"What the hell is going on?" he growled, glaring with the power of a raging fire.
Ayama froze, terrified. She didn't know what to do, how to feel. Even her thoughts were awry, passing through her mind millions of times faster than normal.
One of them spoke up, after what felt like several minutes of silence. "We need you to come with us now." It took Ayama a moment to realize that he was talking to her.
Blinking, trying to find her voice, her eyes darted from Zero to the ones that created a barrier around her, she stuttered, "Wh-what?"
The voice, Ayama noticed it came from one of the vampires behind her, responded, "Ayama Wakahisa. You need to come with us this instant."
"W-why?" Ayama croaked.
"Because you must."
She shook her head. "I don't understand….." She glanced at Zero, who remained frozen. His gun was still aimed at her, but his expression was shocked and confounded, much similar to her own feelings.
"You either come with us willingly now, or forcefully later, Wakahisa." The voice warned.
"Do not give Ayama an ultimatum." Kaname appeared next to Zero, his female bodyguard with him. "You do not belong here. This is a sacred place. It is mutual ground that is not to be tested. I thought the Council was aware of that."
There was silence in response. Ayama had no idea what was going on, but she knew she wanted to get away from the vampires, from Zero's gun.
Kaname, with a calm, diplomatic air about him, said, "Please leave. If you wish to speak with Ayama-san, then I suggest you send an invitation." He took a step forward, so close to the vampires. He reached his hand through them, stretching it towards Ayama.
With a shaking hand, she reached out also and grasped his stone-like hand with relief, allowing him to pull her through the cluster of vampires.
"Kuran, you dare go against the Council?"
Pushing Ayama behind him, Kaname responded, "Not at all. I simply say that this is not the way to go about things. Please leave."
There was more silence, Kaname staring down the intruders with a mask of calm.
Shaking still, Ayama wasn't sure how much longer she could stay standing. Her blood rushed through her veins, making her feel faint. But, there something inside her, something hiding, that trembled within Ayama. She recognized the sense, the feeling. It was unfurling inside her, changing her, rippling under her skin.
Shuddering, she lowered herself to the ground. Digging her fingers in the cool soil, she gulped and fought the thing inside her. It was powerful, much stronger than she. Shivers and tingles ran down her spine, and Ayama clenched her teeth, holding the awesome force back.
Kaname kneeled beside her, the expression in his eyes somewhat scared. "Ayama? Just breathe. Breathe. Listen to my voice, and don't stop. You can't do this now. Not now. Stay as you are, and they will go away. Are you listening? Hold it back."
But she wasn't listening. The vampire inside her awakened. Waves of a might force washed over her, and Ayama felt her eyes change.
Feeling the power run underneath her skin, whisper through her veins, Ayama rose, no longer scared, only amazed. She felt steady, powerful. Staring at the vampires that had come for her, she said, with a voice that echoed throughout the trees and campus, "You will leave now." She glared at them, and watched as their heads turned towards each other, low murmurs of confusion.
A hard hand laid on her shoulder. "Ayama, you need to change back…" Kaname's voice almost sounded afraid.
Turning towards him, she found herself hissing at her fiancée.
"Wakahisa, come with us now," the same voice continued, except it wavered. "Or else we will be forced to take action."
Ayama found herself swiveling to face the intruders. It was all to surreal. She could feel energy tingling through her hands and fingers, and she knew that, if she used it right, she could annihilate all of them. And, surprisingly, she wanted to do that, wanted to get rid of them.
She outstretched her hand, pointing a single finger at them. "Leave or you will regret it."
Kaname gripped her elbow, attempting to force her arm down, but he couldn't. "Stop this, Ayama."
She shrugged him off, prepared to kill them with a twitch of her finger. She wasn't sure why she wanted to kill them, but her senses were speaking to her, as they did constantly now, and told her they were up to no good.
"AYAMA!" a familiar voice screamed from the gates of the school dorm.
Whirling around, involuntarily throwing an invisible force from her hand, Ayama watched, horrified, as her power, whatever it was, destroyed the Moon dorm gates. Hiroshi, miraculously, dashed and rolled out of the way, but he was too slow. A large chunk of concrete crashed upon him.
Shocked and suddenly so very, very afraid, Ayama ran as fast as she could to him. Wildly, she threw the portion of the wall off and away into the forest, ignoring the fact that it took down even more trees. She knelt beside him. Hiroshi's eyes were closed, his body unmoving.
Without another thought, or even another look at the others behind her, Ayama wrapped her arms around Hiroshi's crumpled body and ran. She ran so fast, she couldn't even feel her feet hit the ground. Tears streamed down her face as she cradled Hiroshi's body, speeding through the campus.