Oh shut up. I glared half-heartedly at the teacher as he rambled on and on about this piece of crap literature. No-one cares how the characters are portrayed, I'm pretty sure the author wrote this piece of shit because he wanted to. Not because he was bloody compelled to write something that was meaningful and to impact society!
It didn't help that after waking up with a knife in my hand, I was too afraid to go back to sleep. I spent the rest of the night awake in my bed, worried about what would happen if I went back to sleep and getting spooked by the shadows in my room. It felt childish to be scared of the shapes that formed in the moonlight but it creeped me out even more when they began making me feel like I was being watched. As if someone was watching me and daring me to fall asleep. Because we both knew that something bad might happen if I did.
During the day, I was focused on not falling asleep and it was tough. All the lessons had been so boring and the teachers just seemed to go on and on in their usual boring voices like oh my GOD this is driving me insane! I don't care about where the fucking author grew up, if I did, I'd read his stupid biography! Gah, stupid old hag, stop moving back and forth, it's hard to concentrate when you're strutting around!
I leaned back and noticed Zero and Yuki were sitting together in front of me. They were exchanging notes, complaining about the lesson probably. I slumped on my desk, kind of wishing I could join in because I wanted to complain too. This class is so fucking boring. Just end the lesson early already, no-one's interested! I glanced at Yuki and Zero again, spotting Zero smiling as Yuki pulled a face. He does have a nice smile. It's rare so seeing it is all the more wonderful admittedly. Ugh, look at me, the lovesick mute chick with her arm in a sling. Pathetic.
I then saw Zero take hold of Yuki's hand. I found myself sitting straight up when I saw that and swallowed harshly when I felt this pang in my chest. I looked away, feeling disgusted at myself. They're only holding hands, that's all. It's nothing, insignificant, there is no need to be upset. It doesn't hurt.
When the class finally finished, and marked the end of the school day, I wasted no time dashing out and heading straight home. I just wanted to take a relaxing bath before crossover so I wouldn't be as stressed or huffy when trying to keep the girls in line. I don't even want to be a prefect anymore, it feels so pointless at this point because the girls are just so annoying.
When I started running the bath and stripping, I glanced at my sling. I had to be careful to not get the bandages wet or not to let my arm sit in the water. It meant less water which I disliked but doctor's orders. I was advised to shower but please allow me the small luxury of a bath once in a while.
I sat in the bath for a while, letting my muscles relax and I couldn't help but sigh gratefully. My stress just ebbed away as I closed my eyes and sat back, careful to not let the sling dip into the water. Steam rose as I tipped my head back against the wall and smiled. Hot bathes were the best, especially at the weekend. Stupid Fridays, why do the most boring classes have to be then? I was so close to falling asleep so many times…
"Why do you reject me, Mana?"
I snapped my eyes open and terror clutched my heart as I only saw the colours red and black around me. I was floating, I was cold, I was scared. I looked around, only seeing space and nothing else.
"Why do you resist me?"
I saw a pair of giant mismatched eyes open in front of me, one red and one blue. They held so much hate, so much malice, so much…betrayal?
"Naughty girls are punished, Mana."
Red ribbons lashed out of nowhere and constricted tight around my neck. I choked as they crushed my neck and I began thrashing, trying to get rid of them. My arms were paralysed and couldn't move, I could only kick my legs. I gasped as I landed in something wet and deep. I saw…body parts. Whatever I was being thrown into was cold, red and it tasted metallic. This was blood. I was being drowned in a pool of dismembered people who had their blood drained. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe!
"Mana!"
A horrid laugh echoed in my head and the sound rang in my ears. I was scared! I'm going to die! I'm scared! Zero…!
"Mana, wake up!"
Zero, help me! Please, please, help me!
"Mana!"
I gasped as my knees suddenly hit the bath mat and I winced when I felt the tiles underneath. I coughed up water as a towel covered my back and hands cupped my face, lifting it so I could see my saviour.
It was Zero. Zero saved me. I took in deep breaths of sweet, sweet air, coughing here and there as I stared into his eyes.
"Mana, you fell asleep in the bath…"
His eyes held pain as he stared at me, his hands gripping my shoulders.
"You were drowning yourself! How?! How is this normal?! Why is this happening?!"
I stared at him in disbelief. This isn't normal. People…don't drown themselves in their sleep. They'd wake up and stop themselves. People…can't…
Zero lifted my head and pushed my hand away from where it was holding my neck. I winced, my neck felt sore.
"You had a tight grip, you're bruising."
I stared at the ceiling blankly when I registered that I had not only submerged myself underwater, but I had been strangling myself. I felt my body shake as I felt the fear growing and growing and that awful laugh sung its horrific tune in my head. I saw blood dripping from the ceiling and it disappeared before it landed on my face. I trembled again and Zero shook me.
"Mana?"
I burst into tears. I couldn't stand it! The dreams, the hallucinations, the sleepwalking and now my apparent attempted suicide whilst I was sleeping?! This isn't normal, this is beyond insane, I don't understand why it has to happen to me! I cried and cried, covering my face so Zero couldn't see my pitiful face.
"Mana…"
I brought my arms around Zero and hugged him tight, trembling from the cold and crying. Zero shifted awkwardly.
"Um, should we get you dry and dressed?"
My eyes flew open at the realisation. I was naked. I was wet. I was pressed up to Zero. Shit. I backed off immediately, found the towel and wrapped myself in it, my eyes still stinging with tears despite the awkwardness. Zero straightened his shirt out, his cheeks a little pink as he looked away.
"I'll give you a minute…"
I stood and bustled out to get to my room.
After I had slipped something comfortable on, Zero stayed to change my bandages seeming as they got wet and all. He was very gentle and it made me happy to know he cared about me. I couldn't take my eyes off his face. He was so deep in concentration, making sure he didn't hurt me too much. For a moment, I forgot about everything and just focused on him. I just couldn't stop smiling, tears gone and misery waved away.
I felt my cheeks grow hot when he suddenly looked up and our gazes met. I swallowed hard as he sat back after finishing putting my arm back in its sling.
"I'm going to tell Kaien."
My heart leapt as I grabbed his hand and shook my head.
"Mana, you could have died. It was just too lucky that I happened to decide to come back early and hear you kicking up a splash."
No please, don't leave now…
"I won't be long, I'll come back."
He stood and gave me a small encouraging smile.
"Never thought I'd see the day that you would cry like a little girl."
I punched him in the stomach and regretted that decision when I remembered that he didn't exactly have a jelly belly. He stood back and smirked.
"Just don't change. It'll be too weird."
I watched as he left, suddenly feeling cold and alone. I sat more comfortably on the bed and stared at the door longingly, making sure I stayed awake.
I don't know how much time passed but the sun had gone down and the only light source was in my room was the moonlight. Yuki hadn't come home yet, so I assumed she did crossover by herself then went patrolling. Zero and Kaien…can't still possibly be talking? It's been…ages… I continued staring at the door. Sooner or later…someone will…
"Mana?"
I perked at my name but then realised it wasn't Zero's voice. And I didn't realise it had been Kuran until he opened my door and stepped into my room. I jumped, dashing to grab Pearl Beauty from the bedside table and lifted her at him. I swayed at the sudden movement, still feeling a little out of it. Kuran watched, his eyes burning into me.
"The Chairman has filled me in," he said and something icy clutched at my heart "I can help you, Mana."
No way, buddy, back off! I brandished Pearl Beauty at him but he didn't seem bothered by it.
"Mana, the same vampire that attacked your family is on the school grounds."
It took a moment to register what he had said and I glowered at him. Don't you even start with your manipulative lies!
"He has come to finish what he started," he continued "I can help stop the dreams, Mana. Stop the sleepwalking which has put both you and Yuki in danger."
I was trembling, scared as I remembered in the dreams, it had been him who had been there to instil the fear.
"I can stop the hallucinations."
Fuck, that right there proves he's behind it all!
"Mana, not getting help right now will kill you! It could even put Yuki in danger and maybe even Kiryu…"
I felt my grip on Pearl Beauty waver as I considered it. He was right, if my sleepwalking continued, if there really was someone pulling the strings…then what if I manage to succeed in killing someone?
Hearing Pearl Beauty clatter to the floor snapped me out of my thoughts and I backed off when I saw Kuran had come closer.
"Come with me, Mana."
He held his hand out as I began feeling dizzy and fell forward.
"Stay out here."
"Yes, Kaname-sama."
I came to when I heard voices and a door close. I saw the jacket of the Night Class uniform as arms carried me. I looked around, my sight blurry and my body ached. There was a soft bounce when the person carrying me sat down.
"Mana, I have been meaning to say something for a very long time now."
I shivered, feeling very unsafe as fingers ran up my neck.
"And I intend to repeat it every day just so you can remember."
I know I'm in danger but my body won't move.
"I love you."
I felt sick as a hand cradled the back of my head and lifted it so it was resting against his chest, where I could hear his heartbeat.
"And everything that I do, everything that I have ever done…and everything that I will do is all out of my love for you. You may not reciprocate those feelings just yet."
He pushed my right shoulder down and I found feeling a chilled breath against my skin.
"But you will learn that I am patient. It is only when I'm pushed or when the time is right…that I act."
That was the only warning I got until I felt pain in my neck. It took a while to understand what was going on.
I'm…getting bitten…
I could hear his throat swallowing my blood.
…by a Pureblood…vampire…
I stared up at the ceiling as I felt those fangs leave my neck.
He's turned me into a monster!
My right fist hit him square on the chest and it only pushed me out of his lap. I landed with a loud thud and crawled as far away until my back hit a wall or a window, I'm not sure.
"Mana…"
I held the puncture wounds, breathing in and out spastically and trembling at the realisation.
This has to be another nightmare…
I saw Kuran advancing towards me and I realised I was defenceless.
Someone please, just tell me that this is another nightmare!
I could smell something…delicious permeate the air and I suddenly felt…a little thirsty. Kuran knelt down to my level as I tried to get my head around my senses. I felt him grab my chin and pull me forward. He tilted my head up and smothered my lips with his. Through my lips, I felt something enter then liquid spilled into my mouth. I swallowed some without thinking or tasting at first but then I realised. This was blood. This was his blood. And it tasted…awful but addicting. I hated it!
I punched again and he moved back, severing the kiss. I coughed and spilt the rest of the blood all over me, choking and coughing as I tried to get it out. I hated it! It tasted horrendous but why am I craving more?! This isn't right, this can't be right!
"Mana."
I looked up at Kuran, breathing heavily and suddenly, familiarity screamed at me. But not because he was that vampire who had rescued me and Yuki…
"Mana, you need to drink more."
I pushed against his chest when he tried to come closer and I stared at him in disbelief.
"Mana?"
As I began to lose consciousness, I remembered. This vampire in front of me…is my older brother.
