"Mi- Mika…?"

Yu's heavy, sleep filled voice interrupted the soft breathing that could be heard in the quiet room and Mikaela winced. He'd been doing so well at being quiet, only to get caught now on the last night that he was going to do this. He sighed, deciding that he must have the absolute worst luck that anyone could ever have.

"Mika, what are you doing?" Yu sat up, rubbing at his eyes sleepily while he squinted at Mikaela's form in the dark. They had a small artificial light in the kitchen. The soft blue light could be seen through the doorless entryway that separated the only two rooms in the small building. It cast odd shadows about the room and reflected off of Mikaela's hair. Ako and Taichi were afraid of the dark, but now Mikaela wished that he'd never procured that light for them. A selfish desire that he instantly regretted.

"Where are you going?" Yu tried again, voice steadily growing firmer as he pressed Mikaela for answers.

"Ah, no where Yu-chan." Mikaela answered, trying to make his voice sound sure and cheerful. "I just couldn't sleep." He smiled widely, though he didn't think that Yu could see it in the dark despite the small light. They were too far away. It still helped him feel better with the lie however.

"Then where are you going, Mika?" Yu asked again. He got to his feet, moving carefully around the piled sleeping forms of their family on the floor. The large cushions on the floor made his balance precarious as he made his way to Mika. His arms were held wide as he tried his best not to fall or step on one of the other children.

Mikaela waited until his companion was safe on solid ground before replying to him, not wanting to break his concentration and have him fall on someone. Mikaela didn't need to explain himself to anyone else this night.

"Just outside Yu-chan." He fidgeted on his toes a moment, a little uncomfortable with lying to his brother like this. Indirect lies and avoiding the truth were no problem, but this was… too much for Mikaela. Yu was too forceful in his hunt for answers, and Mikaela was hesitant and a terrible liar. It didn't help that Yuuichirou already knew what he was doing.

Yu had opened his mouth to speak again, but they both paused as another sleepy form sat up amongst the small pile of sleeping children. Yu turned to watch with Mika as Akane yawned and regarded them sleepily. The two boys glanced at each other as they both felt a small sense of dread settle into their stomachs as Akane got to her feet.

It was fine to bicker amongst themselves, but Akane was sure to scold them. Neither of them wanted that. Akane could be scary.

Yu took a side step closer to Mika as Akane approached them, her face set in a scowl even as she tried to cross the haphazard floor of pillows. Their own disagreement was forgotten as they bonded together in solidarity against Akane's motherly ire.

"Just what do you two think you're doing?" Akane asked quietly, voice soft and deceivingly cheerful. She even tilted her face up towards them in a smile that they could just see in the dark.

The two boys exchanged another glance before Mika spoke up first. "N-nothing, Akane. I couldn't sleep and Yu asked me where I was going. That's all." He answered nervously, even lifting his hands palms up to her in an appeasing gesture.

She was quiet for a moment, and Mika wondered if she was flicking her gaze between the two of them. He couldn't tell in this dark.

"And where are you going, Mika?"

Mikaela froze and wondered if the feeling in his stomach was nausea or because of the lie that was getting ready to pass his lips. "Just outside to breath, Akane."

His whole world seemed to slow as both he and Yu watched Akane consider this and wait for her response. Surely he would be berated with a hissed voice for even thinking of doing such a dumb and dangerous thing, alone and especially at night. Such a simple thing it actually was when the slightly younger girl peacefully nodded. Akane stepped forward, wrapping Mika in a hug.

Mikaela's eyes widened at the unexpected gesture, sparing a confused glance with Yu, who thankfully looked equally appalled. After hesitating he brought his arms up and gave the girl a squeeze. Taking a breath, he opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off.

"Just be careful, Mika, okay?" She pulled back, placing a hand on the side of his neck and giving him a steady stare. She squeezed his shoulders and even in the dim light he could see her intense glare.

"Ah! I will!"

Mikaela had known that hiding it wouldn't be easy. Even from idiot Yu-chan. He supposed that they had their right to worry about him, and it was less emotionally difficult now that they knew and that Akane had given him her blessing to do this. Even if it was for the last time.

Yu was still angry, but Mika could handle that. Yu was always angry these days, at the vampires, at the world, at the other children that were livestock, and even at his family. It just couldn't be helped and they were used to it at this point. Mikaela and Akane did what they could for him. Mikaela was even doing the worst thing that he could for the sake of all of them.

Clenching a fist, Mikaela lifted his head and smiled brightly at Akane and Yu. "I promise. That I'll be careful, I mean. We'll definitely talk when I come home." He paused, glancing between the two of them. "Okay?" He asked forcibly. He gave a nod, not even waiting for their response and pointedly ignoring that stupid confused look on Yu's face.

Turning, Mika quickly crossed the room, pausing only to slip on his shoes before hastily shutting the squeaky door behind him and running off into the night.

The cold night air was stinging his checks as Mikaela neared the mansion that was Ferid Bathory's estate in Sanguinem. He knew somewhat instinctively that arriving to a vampire's abode with labored breath and pounding heart wasn't a very smart thing to do, but he was very late as it was because of his impromptu meeting with Yu and Akane.

Ferid wouldn't be happy, especially since Mika had been late the last two times as well. There was no helping it now, and Mikaela didn't need the vampire to like him anymore. Not after what he had found in the manor. This last trip to Ferid's arms was to retrieve the map and gun that he had found, and then they would never have to see Ferid's dirty face ever again.

Mikaela slowed as he neared a back alley, glancing around suspiciously. The areas where vampires lived weren't really patrolled and the livestock districts were patrolled less at night, since humans slept then. Ferid lived in the outskirts of the livestock ghettos, glamorous manor close enough to the other vampires to not be scandalous but still close enough for his little snacks to sneak off and visit him.

They weren't really supposed to. It was against the Queen's laws for livestock to be fed from directly. Humans were too rare of a commodity since the apocalypse happened. Mikaela didn't know how the blood was distributed amongst the vampires and he didn't really care to know.

What he did know was that he was tired of them taking it. He was tired of feeling dizzy and weak, and he knew that he hated seeing his family like that. They had to leave, simple as that.

Little fists clenched, Mika tried to control his breathing as he approached the side entrance to the building that was his destination. The front had a yard with deliberately placed trees and a neat little fountain. Ferid had led him in that way himself the first time. He'd treated him rather nicely back then, hadn't even drank his blood.

This entrance was meant for servants, vampires who weren't progenitors or strong enough to be in the city guard. At least, Mikaela assumed that was the case. They were scared enough of Ferid that was sure.

So was Mikaela, but he'd be damned if he'd let it show. He didn't know how to describe it yet, but he'd be damned if he ever let any vampire get the better of him. Perhaps it was a solidarity with his species, a certain pride even if he was weaker than any vampire alive. If they were alive. There was a lot that Mikaela didn't know about them.

Pausing in front of the door, he took a deep breath. His breathing was almost stable now but his pulse still puttered a little too quickly. Still, it'd be fine. He wouldn't encounter Ferid Bathory immediately and he was fairly certain that the vampire servant that always… well, they didn't greet him but they were always waiting by the door when he arrived, wouldn't harm him just because of his pulse.

None of the vampires that took their blood or that stood guard while they were giving blood had ever lost control. Even if they were scary and murderous monsters they seemed to have more control than a wild animal.

Just as he was about to grasp the handle the door pulled open. He would have startled if it weren't for the pale hand that reach out and grasped his wrist even before the door was finished opening.

He was dragged inside, the vampire taking care to lift him up by his waist so as not to over extend his arm as she lifted his over the threshold with one hand. No good would come from harming her master's favorite toy. The door shut behind them with a quiet click.

"Don't just stand outside, fool." She hissed at him, kneeling down at eye level with him even as she smoothed out his clothes and patted down his hair.

Grabbing his hand in hers, she interlocked their fingers and just as soon was striding down the winding corridors of the absurdly large mansion. This particular vampire was always the one that led him around when Ferid wasn't there, or didn't condescend to do it.

"He's very displeased." Glancing up Mikaela found that the vampire was looking down at him. Was that pity in her eyes, or sympathy?

He wasn't going to dare ask.

The room she'd led him to was the large dinning room. With its perpetually empty, but set long table and intricate, dangling chandelier.

The vampire bowed and quietly excused herself, not a word spoken. Aside from the click of the door, only the crackling fire in the huge fireplace to the left of the door could be heard. At least, to the ears of the very human Mikaela.

Only Ferid inhabited the room, seated at the end, or rather at the head, of the long table with its delicate silverware. In his hand set a fine wine glass and though the red liquid inside was a parody of wine, Mikaela was sure that it was blood.

Mikaela couldn't stop the shiver that suddenly shook his small body. He knew that he wasn't cold, despite the heavy, frozen feeling deep in his stomach. Ferid had never met him within this room. Mika had been in before, many times to eat and to sneak away sweets for his family. It had always been the other, female vampire, that had resided over him.

This was very wrong.

Nothing that he could think of could logically bring him to that conclusion, but Mikaela felt it in his very bones nonetheless. Some reawakened primordial instinct desperately wanted Mika to turn on his heel and flee from this place with all the power his tiny person possessed.

He knew better however. The sick games that Ferid liked to play with them… There were a few children he'd known of that had visited Ferid only to never be seen again. None of the other vampires offered the dangerous choice that he presented them with. It could cost them their lives but there was always a handful of children that came and went from Ferid's manse for the wonderful gifts he gave in exchange for playing his game.

Mikaela and his family had come to rely on the food that the vampire had been gifting them with in return for Mika's blood.

The soft, clear clinking of the glass being sat down on the table startled Mikaela out of his thoughts. Eyes wide he watched as Ferid pushed back his chair and stood, all flowing hair and rustling fabric. The silver haired vampire always looked the part of the wealthy noble swathed in lace, velvet, and silk.

Always in white.

All the vampires that Mikaela had ever seen had been dressed in white. A mockery of a military uniform when they were just disgusting monsters that parasitically lived off the blood of children.

Mikaela hadn't known before the vampires had kidnapped them that he'd hated the color white.

Reaching forward with an effortless grace that they all seemed to possess, Ferid gestured for the boy to come to him.

"Come here, Mika-kun."

Mikaela stepped forward, suddenly feeling very hollow inside. Like he no longer existed, no longer felt anything though he knew that his heart was fluttering within his chest in fear. Yu-chan would have fought. He would have railed against his fate, fists and legs flailing, screaming at the top of his lungs.

He was not Yu-chan and he did no such thing. Obeying was the only recourse that would give him even a slim chance of surviving Ferid's ire this eve and obey Mikaela did.

He stopped within arms reach of the vampire, wide blue eyes meeting crimson. Suddenly he was held in the vampire's arms, lifted up and cradled against the hard chest like a toddler.

"You've been a very bad boy, haven't you?" Ferid cooed lowly into his ear. His breath tickled Mika's neck, the sensation strangely distant. All he could feel was the vampire's large hands on his body.

Turning on his heel Ferid carried him over to the table. The vampire shifted his grip on him slightly so that he was able to hold him there with one arm and gestured down to the table. A long elegant finger tapped on a leaf of parchment paper drawing Mikaela's attention to it.

His breath caught in his throat and ice seemed to replace the blood in his body. There, under Ferid's finger was the map that he'd been planning on stealing this very night. Next to it lay the revolver that he had found while snooping about the mansion as well.

He knew. The slimy, child molesting bastard knew what Mikaela had been planning!

It was then that Mikaela realized that the cold feeling that he'd been feeling since entering this room despite the blazing fire was fear. He'd never feared this vampire before now. Not this physical, mind numbing fear that paralyzed him body and mind. Sure, he had known to be cautious of him, had known that he could easily be killed while in his cold arms. This was the first time that he felt that instinctual fear that he'd seen in other human's eyes whenever a guard had neared them.

Sometime primal within Mikaela seemed to come to life and he gave a short yell, pushing and shoving at Ferid in a sudden attempt to escape. It was useless of course, but he couldn't fight these instincts or this fear.

The bone chilling laugh right in his ear was enough to freeze his movements.

"You thought you could escape with your precious little family, didn't you my pet?" Ferid asked, grabbing the boy's arm and holding him up by it. He lifted him up and leaned down so that they could be at eye level. A wide grin split his face and Mikaela could only stare at his red lips. The very color of blood.

A scream escaped Mikaela's lips and he suddenly found himself laying in a heap on the floor against a wall. His head was spinning and he couldn't focus. Everything hurt. It really, really hurt. Face pressed against the floor he tilted his head to the side, blurry vision trying to find Ferid in the room.

The vampire was still standing beside the table, quietly regarding the disembodied arm that he was holding. A chuckle shook the vampire's frame and he began to make his way toward Mikaela, dropping the useless limb on the floor.

Gently, the vampire sat the bleeding Mikaela up, making sure that he leaned against the wall without slumping. A cold, gloved hand caressed the boy's cheek. He shivered, staring up at Ferid with empty eyes.

"You're wrong. You can't do anything to save that family of yours." Ferid's face disappeared from view as the vampire leaned forward, nuzzling against Mika's neck. "You know that now. Don't you?" He whispered in his ear, before sinking fangs deep within the boy's throat.

Mikaela stiffened then slowly relaxed as the usual pleasure slowly spread through his body. The pain from his no longer existing arm, and from the back of his head lessened. Finally, he didn't feel anything at all and everything went black.

The first thing that Mikaela became aware of was the pain.

He had thought that getting his arm ripped off had been painful. This was much worse. His entire body seemed to burn from the inside out. A twisting, searing pain that seemed to be dispersed throughout his body but moving all at once. Though he tried, Mika found that he couldn't move, couldn't even try to escape from the confines of the pain that held him in its grasp.

There was movement around him. Even if he couldn't move his body, he was aware of that. His eyes wouldn't open but his ears still worked. Snippets of conversation were all he could make out however. Women's voices, ebbing in and out of his range. Whether they were moving or he was just faulty, Mikaela didn't know. Maybe it was the pain.

"…thank you for coming to me… important to me… Seraph…"

"…I knew… found the map… was angry…"

"…should kill him now…"

All conversation ceased the moment that Mikaela found that he could move again. It happened slowly, starting in his fingers but soon he had gained full mobility altogether. The boy thrashed around instantly, a scream ripping its was from his mouth. Anything, anything to stop the pain.

Small hands grabbed his shoulders, forcing at least his upper body to stay still. A weight then settled on top of him and he realized that someone was sitting on him, pinning him to the floor with unimaginable strength.

"Easy there, Mikaela." A woman's… no, a girl's high pitched but soft voice cooed to him. "Drink and the pain will cease."

Something wet pressed against Mikaela's mouth, fingers grabbing his jaw and gently opening his mouth for him. The liquid pour in instantly, flaring deliciously on his tongue, and Mikaela's eyes snapped open. Instinctively he grabbed her wrist, sinking brand new fangs deeply into her flesh for the wound she had made had already closed.

Blue eyes locked with the pink haired girl's crimson eyes as he drank her blood. It was what he needed, he didn't need the easing pain to know that somehow. Something within him had changed, he had changed. He hadn't even made a conscious decision to grab her, his body had done it without his control.

Tears trailed down his cheeks but he couldn't look away from the entrancing eyes. Nor could he stop himself from swallowing her blood. It was then that Mikaela realized that he couldn't go home.