The Story of Amara Kuran | Mariah Bryant
Book One, Chapter Eleven
My Trouble
Zero did not stop on the campus. He proceeded toward the Moon Dorms and then to the forest surrounding them. I quickly told myself that the students inside were sleeping and that I did not have to worry, but still it was frightening to me to think that people who wanted me dead were on the other side of the Moon Dorm gates. Zero was oblivious as he led us deeper into the trees.
"Shit." he stopped very suddenly and cursed. The cold, moist leaves on the ground helped him wheel around swiftly.
I almost smiled smugly as Yuki ran through the trees to us. "Zero, what are you doing?" she asked hesitantly. She stopped, glancing between the three of us, gauging our faces. She took a few cautious steps toward Zero until she was angled behind him.
"I told you not to follow us, didn't I?" Zero growled.
"Yeah, but I got really worried when I saw you all marching toward the Moon Dorms."
Zero sighed and shook his head. "Yuki, this is no place for a human . . ."
"He's here." Yuki said defensively, glancing at Mike.
I closed my eyes. "Say what you have to say, Zero, so that I can make my argument and leave."
"I want to know what you are planning, and why the senate wants you dead." I heard a gun caulk, and felt the presence of the barrel a hair away from my forehead.
"I share the same pacifistic ideals as the Headmaster. Is it that hard to understand? My conviction is unfair, and during my visit in Japan I plan to clear my name."
I sensed Zero shaking his head. "You are avoiding giving me the full answer."
"Why do you think you have the right to know? Besides, I was planning on telling you eventually but not at this moment."
Zero laughed harshly. "Okay: why not?"
"Because the senate will be here any minute to apprehend me."
"Every word you say brings me closer to the conclusion that you do not have the humans' best interest in mind. You are hiding here when you know the senate will follow you here to get you? You are putting the humans in danger. Did you know that? Of course you did, as brilliant as you are."
I opened my eyes. "I did know that. But I also knew that it was inevitable. It is thanks to you, I do believe, that the showdown between the senate and I will happen here and not in front of the students . . ."
"Ah! I can feel you messing with my brain!" Zero shook his head violently and stuffed the Bloody Rose Gun into his jacket somewhere. I noticed only a second before he launched himself at me that his eyes were blood red and his teeth itched to bite. What was it about me that inspired such dramatic emotions in vampyres? Calm, cool, and usually collected Zero Kiryu looked like he was going to loose himself.
My back slammed against a tree. It provided just enough resistance to prevent it from falling over. Zero's arm, just under my collar bone, threatened to break my ribs. Birds fled from the area noisily. Mike gawked. Yuki covered her mouth and her eyes were wide. Zero looked murderous.
"It is my duty to protect Yuki, and it is my job to protect humans from vampyres. As you probably already know, I am a vampyre hunter as well as a common vampyre; one that had once been human." Zero's arm had a lot of force and strength and was fueled by raw emotion. I could not get air into my lungs. His fury was disorienting.
Zero's hand flicked backward, preparing to inflict some sort of pain on me.
"I will protect this school from idiotic liars like you. Now: why is the senate after you?" Zero demanded.
"I will tell you all later, but the senate . . ."
"I am not going to follow the Headmaster, vampyre! I am telling you that I will kill you unless you give me cold hard proof that your intentions are for the best – not that any vampyre's are."
I wanted to fight back so badly, especially now that I felt immense pain in my chest and was hardly able to breathe. Then I glanced over at Mike.
"Zero, I was wrongly convicted of slaughter on a large scale." I began to cough maniacally as he pressed harder. "I am in the Day Class because the aristocrats in the Night Class are with the senate and will try to turn me in before I can plead my case. Please, let me go now – you are choking me!" Water trickled from my eyes.
"I don't think so. I'm not convinced." Zero shot a look at Mike.
"You are going to kill her!" Mike attempted to cry, but he was so scared that it came out as an English whisper.
Kaname ran up exactly when I knew he would. "Zero, let her go!"
Zero laughed. "I don't think so, Kuran. I know you two are plotting something bad, and I will not allow it. You're gonna be the next one on this tree!
"All of you vampyres are the same. You are monsters in human form. There is no possibility that you could ever have good intentions." Zero shook his head. "Your senate does not even try to keep order. It is just a hoax to make a couple of old vampyres think that they have control over the others. You are all power- and blood-hungry, and that is all you are."
"Let her go! She can barely breathe," Kaname's eyes were wide with worry. He put an urgent hand on Zero's arm.
Zero roared and in a flash grabbed the Bloody Rose Gun from his jacket (Perhaps from his belt? I did not look) and pressed its barrel against my brother's head. Meanwhile, his arm began to crack my ribs and collar bone. My teeth were gritted behind my relaxed lips.
"Zero, you have got it wrong. Amara hid in America from the senate for years, but now she is back to save the world from a man who has just resurrected . . ."
"Save it, Kuran. This is for my twin brother, Ichiru, and everyone who has ever been fooled by you stupid vampyres . . . !"
"Stop, Zero! Hear him out!" Yuki cried, throwing down her hands.
Very calmly, Kaname said, "This girl, Amara Kuran, is my younger sister. If you hurt her, I will kill you. You know you do not stand a chance. Not even the Bloody Rose Gun will greaten the odds of your survival. Zero, my patience for you is at its thinnest. You have two seconds to back away from my sister."
Zero's eyes went a little bit wider with fear. In disbelief, he gawked at Kaname. Yuki's jaw was limp; she covered her gaping mouth with her hand. She glanced from Zero to Kaname to me and back. Zero looked back at Yuki, and stepped away from me.
I tried not to gasp for air too loudly, or to lurch forward, but it was hard. My weak knees nearly brought me to the ground. My brain screamed. My hand clutched my head. I trembled.
"Are you alright?" Kaname asked. His hand was now on my shoulder. "It is not just your chest that is hurting you now," he realized.
I smiled. "I have improved on my control."
Kaname smiled back, relieved.
"Tell me what the hell you are talking about, Kuran." Zero demanded.
Kaname sighed, not taking his eyes from me. "How much longer?"
"Uh . . ." My connection wavered, but was recovered and became less blurry. "Forty-eight seconds."
"There is more to the vampyre world than even you realize, Zero. There are murders. Amara's and my parents were murdered. It is very complicated. Now the senate wants her executed. But we are trying to make them understand the justice in her actions. Now, the senate will be here in mere seconds – not long enough for you and Yuki to run away. However, I want you to guard Yuki with your very life. I do not know what will happen, but the less you two are involved the better."
Kaname's eyes now lingered on Yuki sadly. "Yuki, it will not be too much longer." he told her softly.
Yuki looked a little scared, but for the most part she looked rather happy. Her relief that I was not a threat to her was rapturous.
I put a hand on my brother's arm to steady myself. I took a deep breath.
Something possessed me to smile reassuringly at Mike, though I had not looked at him before the gesture. He took a step toward me, and took my hand in both of his.
"You know what will happen?"
"For the most part," I allowed.
"Will it be drawn out or short?" I think Mike chose that question out of many.
I sighed and closed my eyes. "D . . . tr . . . ah . . ." I choked, unable to speak. My eyelids snapped open and my watering eyes glared meaningfully into Mike's.
Mike nodded. "I got it. Don't hurt yourself."
I sucked in air, shaking my head. "You should know. It is not fair to you. Nothing is . . ."
"Are you all right?" Kaname turned to me suddenly.
"Yeah, I just – whoa!" I gasped.
Mike's eyes flung wide. His hazel eyes scanned the trees. "They are here," he told Yuki, Zero, and Kaname in Japanese. Unable to see anything, he looked back down at me.
I swiped a tear from my eye and took a deep breath, my head spinning. I stood straighter. "Yuki, Mike: stand behind Kaname and I. Zero, do the same but do not forget to shield them," I whispered rapidly. When Mike did not move, I pulled him behind me and made him stand beside the tree I had been pinned to.
Yuki scrambled to get next to him. Zero, incredulous, followed Yuki and stood behind them so that when we were surrounded they would be guarded on all sides from the vampyres.
I wondered briefly whether it would be the senate or their assassins that had come for me, and then I realized that it was Mike's thought – I already knew.
Mike took deep breaths. I stopped breathing. Kaname looked angry. I looked brave and powerful. Zero looked confused, but rough and ready. Yuki was confused, but curious. Mike looked like he would pounce on (or away from) the next thing to move.
We could not see the vampyres surrounding us, but we knew we were there. It was just the five of us; most of us clueless as to what was going on and only three of us actually doing more than just being there. The five of us and the tree that blocked one whole side of Mike from the vampyres. If Zero were to guard Yuki, he would also be guarding Mike. I was guarding Mike. Kaname would fight almost as hard for Mike as he would for Yuki. Unwillingly, we all relied on one another with our very lives.
The clothes which I wore had never made me feel inadequate so much.
I had never loved a tree so much.
Never had I dreaded fate so much.
Mike had never been so caring so much at once.
I was still feeling the reverberations of the clock dinging. Truly, it was one that had been set many years ago and whose hands I had been hearing almost my whole life.
Now I would be a big girl.
No, I would continue where I left off being a big girl.
I would set things right.
If fate would let me.
I have to thank Princesa de la Luna and EmeraldGreen4Life (a. k. a. Alexa) for consistantly reviewing every chapter almost as soon as they are posted. They are the best!! Alexa has already told me what she wants to happen, so to everyone else: it's time to step up! Her suggestion will be seen shortly. How about yours? Tell me in a review or it won't be!!!!!!!
