The Story of Amara Kuran | Mariah Bryant
Book One, Chapter Twelve
My Confrontation
There was a shrill sound, like a bullet whistling through the trees. Then there were many. Then vampyres started surrounding us, some of them dropping out of trees. Many of the assassins were shocked. Many were mad. Many were terrified. Many were excited. All were as stone-faced as they possibly could.
I waited for that face, for those eyes, inside a body that was begging to break down and run. I stood bravely as the vampyres encircled us rather swiftly. Some even stayed in the trees to block all exits. They watched me carefully. I showed nothing but (because it was inevitable) a little wonder.
I was in wonder because I would be seeing things today that I had feared all my life, and I somehow wanted to. How had they changed? Would I be as big as them? Would I now be as strong as them? Would it be dreamlike, or like seeing anything else, only that they came with memories? When would they arrive? Which ones would arrive?
I probably knew, but was too focused on the vampyres before me to remember the prophesy.
"It is quite a shame about Botan. He was a horribly intelligent young man."
The vampyres I was watching parted and allowed through two men. The older of the two had been the speaker.
My heart stuttered.
"You were, at one time, friends with him, correct?" the man cocked his head.
"Yes. I had hoped we would always be friends, but things do not work out the way that we plan."
"That is true. That is true." the man's mouth slowly pulled into a smile. "How was America?"
"It is a wonderful place, but of course, Japan is more beautiful to me. At least, this part of it." I cracked a smile.
"Amara Kuran. Do you still go by that?"
"Yes, I do. I suppose you are now senator?"
His eyes got darker. "I am. A very successful one, actually."
"I do not doubt it." I forced out a polite smile.
He took a few steps forward. "You have caused many people great displeasure, Amara. The senate has been hunting you for a long time. You have been running."
"Not running. I was simply staying at a distance." I corrected him calmly. I had not been running. I had been waiting.
"Hmm. You have been avoiding trial. Because of this, your sentence has become nonnegotiable. Your choices have not been wise."
I gave no comment, though he looked like he expected one.
"So I suppose you are aware of my purpose for being here. Are you also aware of what will happen if you do not comply?"
"I am perfectly aware and I assure you, now that I am old enough I will handle this situation like an adult."
"You should not be able to control when you face the consequences of your wrong doings, Amara."
I was silently fuming on the inside while the outside showed nothing. Oh, I could have killed him right then. He thought he had the nerve. I wanted to show him who was the one with nerve.
He grinned. "Amara, this is Shiki-sama." he said quietly, so that that the assassins could not hear. They stood within a twenty-foot radius of me. It was not their job to listen in, anyway.
I cocked my head ever-so-slightly, examining the teenage boy standing emotionlessly behind his great-uncle. He did resemble Shiki. Perhaps he was Senri, Shiki's son . . . yes, that was who he was. . . . But . . .
It was Shiki. One eye was a different color from the other, and I remembered both of Senri's eyes being light blue, despite the darkness behind them. Shiki had taken over his son's body.
"In his son's body." I observed, trying to be undeterred, but I felt immense pity for Senri. He was such a kind boy.
"That is correct. And what a beautiful body. My son has done well." Shiki said in his son's voice. Senri was very patient. Shiki made him sound impatient, greedy, and selfish.
I smiled. "I am sure Kaname would know all about that."
Shiki nodded. "Kaname Kuran-sama is a great teacher. It is much too bad that you ruined the family line."
I felt Kaname's anger flair, and the shock of his intensity suppressed my own reaction. I sighed. "I am truly sorry you feel that way, Shiki-sama. So, tell me: what is the date of my trial?"
"The senate has freed up the entire day." Senri's great-uncle told me.
"Will you be escorting me?"
"Of course."
"Well, Shiki-sama," I bowed. "Respectively, I am afraid that I cannot present myself dressed as I am. Would you mind if I changed into something more formal, first?"
"Of course. You must respect the senate."
I smiled. "Alright. May I take my brother and my friends to vouch for me?"
"Friends? You have been here two days –" Shiki's uncle-in-law began, but Shiki cut him off by raising his hand.
"Please?" I asked after Shiki did not proceed to speak. I met Senri's great-uncle's eye steadily, conveying an order.
"Sure. There is room in the car." he complied.
I smiled triumphantly. "Thank you, Sir. I will be seeing you shortly."
Shiki glared at me furiously as his uncle-in-law bowed to me, excusing me. I took Mike's elbow and swiftly guided him through the circle of assassins (who parted for us) and to the Sun Dorms. Kaname ushered Yuki, and Zero came by his own will. We scrambled through the doors and ran up the steps to my room.
Mike turned to me very suddenly and took both of my elbows in his hands; I held his arms, too. His hazel eyes were large . . . and brilliant. I prompted him for an explanation with my eyes. It was hardly necessary.
"Oh my gosh, I thought it would be so much worse than it was! Still, it was so scary – I was really worried they would send the troops to attack you, especially when you got all 'pureblood' on them. Who were they? What was said? God, I was terrified . . ."
I smiled, relieved that his worries could be soothed. I shook my head slowly. "Ah, Michelangelo. It was as bad as you thought. The underlying fight was much harder than the one you heard in Japanese. Shiki wanted the assassins oblivious to what was really going on. Still, though, it did go better than I thought it would. I am grateful that Shiki did not try to overpower me when I manipulated Senri's great-uncle to let you come along with me to the senate building."
"Why would Shiki allow me to go with her? Wouldn't I make it easier for her?" Mike asked Kaname.
"He wants to use you to destroy her. It is actually easier than you think." Kaname was quiet for my sake.
My heart squeezed and I looked away from Mike, gritting my teeth. I winced.
I had failed to fully protect Mike.
"Amara, he would have been hunted down, anyway. Shiki knew that he was your weakspot the moment he saw him. You actually protected him again, the way you did when we came to America." Kaname said. "You saved Yuki, too."
"What is going on?" Yuki whispered in a very tiny voice. Zero stood beside her, his fists clenched, his face scared.
I sighed, dropping my head. "Kaname, is now the time?"
Kaname nodded. I heard the friction and knew what he had done, though my eyes were closed.
I took a deep breath. "Alright. Everyone deserves to know."
"To know what?" a voice asked grimly from the doorway.
My head snapped up.
In the next chapters, you will be exposed the bloody past of the Kuran siblings. Trust me, you will not want to miss this. Get your friends and hurry to the computer the moment it is posted -- and be ready. You think you know this story? You've got another thing coming. I can't wait to hear about your reactions. . . .
