I was so impressed with the number of people who moved to read Chapter Five almost the instant it was published that I decided that I would not make you wait to read the next chapter even though only my friends from school actually reviewed! Congratulations and whatever you are doing, keep it up! I love having a large number of fans and seeing that number grow!
The Story of Amara Kuran | Mariah Bryant
Book One, Chapter Six
My Michelangelo?
Kaname rose and extended a hand to me. I took it and stood. Hand in hand we strolled back to my apartment. We both went inside to find that Mike was in the kitchen drinking a glass of water. My cabinets were open.
"No food?" he asked, humored.
I giggled. "Mike, uh, vampyres drink blood."
Mike smiled embarrassedly. "Yes, but don't vampyres eat food, too?"
"Aristocrats, a lower level of vampyres than purebloods like Amara and myself, do eat human food. Purebloods, however, only drink blood." Kaname explained.
Mike raised an eyebrow. "There are classes of vampyres?"
I shook my head at the same time Kaname said, "Yes." My brother and I exchanged looks, both of us determined.
"Amara disagrees, but we do rank ourselves according to our level. Purebloods, who do not have a drop of human blood in their bloodline, are the most powerful of the levels of vampyres and are like kings. Aristocrats do have human blood mixed somewhere in their lineage. Then there are common vampyres, who have more human blood in their veins and do not have any special powers. Then there are former humans, who have been bitten by purebloods and have turned into vampyres. The lowest level, Level E, stands for Level End. These are former humans. If the pureblood did not give the new vampyre some of his or her own blood, then the former human looses his mind and turns into a killing machine and is called a Level E. That is why we exterminate them. The senate, who controls all of the other vampyres, keeps track of that type of thing and organizes the hunts and such. This is because the vampyre hunter council does not always do as good a job as actual vampyres."
"So, there is a council and you are like a prince and princess or whatever?"
"No. Amara is not officially on the senate and neither am I, though my will is done regardless. I am in a way a high President." Kaname smiled at this.
"Oh."
"Though that was a wonderful summary that my brother gave, I will fill in the details later on. It is a lot to understand." I smiled warmly. Mike smiled thankfully back.
"So, you're hungry?" I said. A frown slowly crept onto my face. When I turned to my brother I saw him holding up a credit card. I smiled and sighed with relief. "Okay. Let's go out to eat."
Kaname glanced out of my window at the bright world outside and grimaced. "Maybe we can do takeout."
Out of his pocket he took a phone and called the local directory, then called what Mike said was his favorite Chinese restaurant. Of course this amused my brother and me. When the food arrived, Mike, Kaname, and I lounged around the kitchen. My brother and I sipped on blood mixed into water, which isn't as gross as it sounds. It was very close to tasting like blood straight from the source, but cold and not as sweet. My brother noted that he liked to warm his up in a microwave, but I did not have one.
Suddenly Mike cocked his head. "Kaname? Where did you get this sling?"
Kaname laughed. "I plucked it off of some six-year-old human who was screaming because he was to short for a ride."
"You just took it from him?"
"Very quickly and with plenty of precision." I said.
"Hmm. So I guess you guys are really fast."
"Among other things." I grinned.
Mike shook his head. "Just hearing about it makes me tired. Care if I retire early?"
"Nope. Let me help you." Mike and I walked into the other room and I supported his back while he slowly laid down. With hands steadier than I felt I pulled the blankets over him and tucked him in. It took great restraint not to pat him on the head or kiss him on the cheek. I rose and walked back to the kitchen.
Immediately I laid my head on Kaname's chest. I tried not to pay attention to how muscular and broad it had become. My brother hugged me comfortingly.
"I'm scared. Kaname, I can not loose Mike. No matter what happens, you must promise me you will protect him." I whispered to him in Japanese.
"I am scared, too, Amara. I give you my promise." Kaname kissed my forehead. "Now, let us go to sleep now, also. I am suffering from jetlag."
I smiled. "Alright."
So, it was that I curled up on the far side of the mattress, as far away from Mike as I believed I could get. Neither of us was uncomfortable, so all was good. Kaname slept on the floor with his upper body on the bottom of the mattress. We all woke up at ten the next day, after a rather eventful night.
"Amara," Kaname whispered. I started coming around, and realized that I had been asleep.
My brother wiped my cheek and frowned. "You were sobbing silently. What did you see?"
I sat up slowly and calmed myself. "A lot."
"Has there been a change?" Kaname asked.
"It was not a vision, or even a prophesy. It was a nightmare." I shuddered, and sniffled. I buried my face in my hands. "I . . . killed him." I sobbed.
"No, he is right next to you." Kaname said.
"I mean Botan." I whispered.
Kaname smiled sympathetically. "You were his buddy when you two were small. I know that everything must be really hard on you. You used to be friends with everyone you met. Now they all . . ."
I nodded. "If he had been able to see the truth, I would not have taken his life." I put my hands on the bed to keep my exhausted body from falling back down. "Now he has no second chance."
"It will take a lot, but you are a very strong person. I have unwavering faith in you, my sister. You will bring them all to enlightenment." Kaname assured me, but even my brother's words were not enough.
I sighed and squeezed my eyes shut. I had an unimaginable weight on my shoulders. "Kaname? Has the situation gotten any better?"
Kaname shook his head sadly. "I have almost tried to stay out of it but from what I can tell, it has only been getting worse. And with his rising . . ."
In his sleep, Mike reached an unconscious hand over and covered my own hand. His thumb wiggled under my palm, and he clasped it like he was going to hold it to comfort me. He let out a sigh, and I did too. More tears dripped down my cheeks.
"Well, we are leaving now. Are you coming?" Kaname asked all too soon.
"Will I be able to come back?" Mike asked, biting the inside of his mouth.
"Of course," I answered immediately.
Kaname frowned. "It is not wise,"
I shook my head. "We will come back sometimes. After the initial business is taken care of, I think it is a possibility that we may even be able to move back here permanently. Or, just you, depending." I shrugged, my mind whirring like an overworked machine. Mike looked like he did not feel comfortable in his own skin. He was like a lost child! I had to tell him whatever I could to make him feel better.
"Then, yes. I'll come. I want to be there for you, no matter what happens. I hope you don't mind that I want to come back?"
I smiled and shook my head. "I wouldn't want to not see my parents for any length of time. Our friends are so kind. I understand completely."
Mike half-smiled.
"So, are we leaving everything here?" I asked.
"Yes, but I would pack a few bags of clothes if I were you. We could be in Japan for a while." Kaname said.
I looked around timidly. My clothes were folded on my bookshelf.
Kaname saw this and was shocked. "I am offended! Horrified! Is this really the way you allow yourself to live?"
I laughed at his face. "Kaname, what I do own is top-notch. I do not buy sweatpants and such."
"That does not excuse it. We will buy you a real wardrobe in Japan."
I laughed harder and shook my head. "I told you: level does not affect class. This is an extreme of what I meant: a pureblood in poverty. Oh, the irony!"
Kaname frowned. "Put what you have into a bag and come on. We have a plane to catch."
I sighed and picked up my backpack, which I had left at home because I knew it would be unneeded. I emptied it of its contents and put all of my clothes and accessories inside. The bag was swollen, but it closed regardless.
"We will buy Mike new stuff, too." Kaname said as we exited my apartment.
I walked with my arm around Mike's waist, keeping him steady and such. When we reached the ground we signaled a taxi and rode it to the airport. We boarded the plane whose jets pushed us to Japan.
