Chapter fifteen: Riddle me
"How the hell can you listen to this crap?" I asked irritably, covering my yawn with my left hand.
"It's The Judds' song 'Love can build bridges'," Mom answered, smiling to herself as she fixed her hair in the mirror that was in the corner of the room. Thank God I couldn't see myself. I would have freaked at my unkempt appearance since my abduction.
"Yea, it can build bridges all right, and jump over it and die violently," I remarked sarcastically.
She gave me an irked glare. "You're so cheery in the morning."
"You're at fault here. It's nine A.M.," I said tiredly. "Were you expecting roses and candy?"
She chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Just behave until I return from church."
"Right, so you're giving me permission to vex people afterwards," I grinned playfully, toying with the stuffed animal zebra.
She didn't respond since she was too occupied with her appearance, so I turned my attention onto the bald man sitting next to the window. To my dismay, Mr. Tampon would be babysitting me until Mom returned. All of his clothes were black today, which I was guessing was his normal attire, and he had a hat on his head to cover up the baldness.
If I could be any X-Men character, which one would I be and why?
My first answer was Jean Grey. The woman had it all—red hair, power, men who wanted her and beauty. Right now, if I was the Phoenix mutant, I would make Mr. Tampon deteriorate slowly so I could hear him scream. But then I started to rethink my decision and came up with the conclusion that if I had all that power, I'd go nuts simply because I have no self-control. When I get mad, I get mad and I blow up. End of story. There is no calming down unless Erica is—was—beating the crap out of me. So I voted to be Cyclops instead. At least I get to blast Mr. Tampon into oblivion.
I forced myself to smile to refrain from blurting out insults and death threats to the bald man.
"Seriously Mom, please shut it off," I pleaded.
She blinked at me, a blank stare on her face. "Does country music really bother you that much?"
"You have no idea," I grumbled, shooting Mr. Tampon a glare. He had a simple, small smile on his face as if he now had black mail.
"Okay, well, I suppose it's better than choir music," she muttered, pressing the off button on the radio.
"Are you sure that you'll be able to get in the church?" I questioned her curiously.
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, you're a vampire," I answered.
She chuckled. "That doesn't mean I'm not welcomed in God's house. I was a human before."
"Right," I replied, uncertain.
A Catholic vampire going to church…how ironic. A part of me wanted to laugh and the other part of me wondered what would happen if she dipped her finger into holy water.
I pouted. "Can't you bring him with you while you're invading a church?"
"No, the Night Class are asleep and Touga-kun is busy searching for the escaped criminal. The Guardians are in class, so I told them that Adam would be glad to watch over you," she smiled sweetly.
"Glad to watch me, eh?" I said sarcastically.
"Yes, we'll have plenty of fun," he said quietly.
"And what about the Headmaster, hmm? Doesn't he want to get to know his daughter?" A small vein pulsed near my temples.
Mom walked towards me and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. "Because he's an idiot."
"He's an idiot, you're an idiot, I'm an idiot--I see how we're related."
She gave me a stern look. "To be honest with you darling, I think he's afraid of you."
"And has every damn right to be," I commented snidely.
She frowned. "You could try to be nice."
"Aww but you'd take all the fun from it!"
She placed her hands firmly on her hips, causing me to roll my eyes.
Brace yourself! Here comes the lecture!
"Serena Fontana, you're just as afraid as your father."
I scoffed. "Afraid of what?"
"Of rejection," she hissed.
I raised an irritated eyebrow. "Do enlighten me."
"Your father is afraid you'll shun him and you're afraid that he'll shun you, which is why you're doing it first so you won't have to deal with it," she sighed, becoming less tolerant of my attitude.
"Thank you Dr. Phil," I rolled my eyes and scowled.
"UGH! You two are like two peas in a pod!" Mom barked, referring to me and my father.
"More like two nuts in a shell," Mr. Tampon mused.
Mom and I both glared at him, causing him to shrug it off indifferently.
A knock sounded on the door and Kiren's head poked in as if she was waiting for permission. "Good morning."
A grin was instantly planted on my face. "It's a good morning now! Don't be shy! Come in!"
Kiren grinned humorously as she entered the room with a tub of vanilla ice cream in one hand, and two spoons and chocolate syrup in the other hand.
As she handed me the ice cream, I squealed in delight. "There is a God and her name is Kiren! I love you! Will you marry me?"
She blushed and stared at me in surprise with huge emerald eyes. "Uh…Serena-chan…"
Mom snatched the ice cream, causing me to pout childishly. "Serena, you know what this will do to your weight!"
"Mom, all I've had since I was kidnapped is soup. If I don't eat something fattening once in a while I'll become a twig and you'll see my rib cages! And that's not healthy either!" I argued, snatching back the ice cream. "Besides! It contains milk!"
"So drink actual milk!" she scowled, taking it from me again.
"Listen here, woman!" I growled, snatching it from her for the second time. "I'm not going to fret over my body weight! Why? Because when I get older and fatter, I'll get sick with something serious and then I'll lose all that fat because of it and then die. So my suggestion to you is to eat what you want before death deprives you of it!"
"Wow, you have a way with words, Serena. Such poetry," Mr. Tampon rolled his eyes.
"Shut up baldy."
Kiren frowned, putting a finger to her upper lip. "I don't know Serena-chan, your mother has a point."
I glanced at her in despair. "Oh no, she has corrupted you my beloved! Quick! Stick your finger in Heaven's perfect gift!"
Kiren giggled, but accepted the ice cream –not that she had a choice—when I shoved it back into her hands after stirring the chocolate syrup in and licked my spoon as she tried it.
Her eyes perked up and she smiled innocently. "It is good."
I heard Mom sigh and watched her as she lifted her hand to forehead in frustration. "Fine, but once you're able to move again, I'm putting you back into shape."
"Right," I said, rolling my eyes because technically speaking she was only supposed to remain here until I was all healed. The bottom half of my body had completely healed, so now I was just waiting for my ribs to stop hurting. My broken fingers were okay, a pain in the ass to use, but they were okay.
Only three more weeks to go!
"So what are you doing here, Kiren-chan? Don't you have class?" Mom questioned the guilty looking student. "You're not skipping, are you?"
She shook her head vigorously. "No, I just…told the teacher that I would be late."
I blinked. "And he was okay with that?"
A tiny smile formed on her face. "He kinda had no choice…I left right afterward."
"Right, well, I think it's time for you to return to class," Mom insisted, her tone became demanding. "And you, don't eat all that ice cream."
"Yes Mom," I replied routinely with the spoon in my mouth.
"Make sure to denounce the Devil once you reach the church's grounds," Mr. Tampon said gruffly.
"Oh I don't think that will be necesary," Mom chuckled.
"Yea, wouldn't want to upset anyone until you know where you're going, eh Mom?" I teased.
"Serena..." She used her warning tone.
"Right, right. May the power condemn you!" I shouted in mock glee.
Mom stared at me, a bit confused. "I think you meant to say 'The power of Christ compels you.' "
"Right," I rolled my eyes.
I watched Mom shoo Kiren out of the room, waving as she left and I waved back. I smirked to myself. I knew those two would be best friends, the perfect mother and daughter. Shame she had me instead. With Kiren and Mom gone, that left me with the man I wanted to murder. We glared—okay, I did the glaring—at each other silently until he decided to talk.
"You know she said not to eat all of that ice cream," he said casually to break the menacing silence.
I shrugged indifferently. "Wouldn't be the first time I disobeyed."
"She's not going to happy with you," he warned.
I made an ugly face at him.
"And you really need to improve your attitude. It's not healthy to always be so negative and cruel to your elders. It makes you a horrible person," he said as I aggressively attacked my ice cream with my spoon.
"Awww, you flatter me Mr. Tampon."
He sighed and mumbled under his breath, "No guy in their right mind would have kids."
"Yes! I shall never be pregnant! Wait, no, that's a lie," I sighed in mock pity. "It's too bad that most men think with their penises, eh?"
"She really wouldn't approve of this," he retorted and he took the tub of ice cream from me, causing one of my eyebrows to lift to challenge him.
"I still don't approve of you and yet you're still here. Alive too. Shame," I sneered while licking the chocolate syrup off the spoon.
He suddenly smirked devilishly and I automatically knew he was going to say something to piss me off.
"You've got some friend there," he jeered. "She's already replaced Erica it seems."
Before he could even blink, I had a syringe filled with air not even centimeters from his neck and my left hand had a tight grip on his ear. His eyes flickered to me, wide with disbelief.
I glowered hostilely at him and seethed through my teeth. "I may appear fragile or even come across as a joker, but this needle filled with air is all I need to kill you."
He chuckled suddenly, still not taking me seriously and gave me a cynical grin. "Where did you learn about air embolism?"
"Don't mention my friends again," I snapped.
I am a child of wrath. Fuck pride and lust-- give me wrath!
"As you wish," he said heedlessly, but when I didn't release him, he added, "Anything else you want to say?"
"Stay the fuck away from my mom," I ordered.
"Ah huh. I can't do that. I have been instructed to kill her when her time comes," he smiled, mocking me with those blasted perfect set of white teeth.
I pressed the needle closer to his skin, close enough to puncture him. "She is mine. My blood, my mom, my responsibility. The woman who gave me life, and I will take hers. Got that?"
He kept his corrupted smile. "We'll see."
Despite the fact he didn't promise me he'd leave her in my hands, I released him and pushed on the needle to let the air escape, and hid the potential weapon underneath my pillow.
"You've healed quite nicely--must be because of that vampire boyfriend of yours."
"Asshole," I hissed, wishing I hadn't ruined my hands earlier so I could strangle him. "Do you have a death wish?"
He put up his hands above his chest to defend himself. "Touché."
"Get the hell out of my room," I growled.
He chuckled heartlessly. "I don't know what's more entertaining—pissing you off or banging your mom."
Before I could reach out and strangle the fucker, ruined hands be damned, blood suddenly appeared on his neck and when I looked behind him I found the source. Zero had cut him with a small curved knife, and he looked so murderous that I had gulped and backed away.
"You are dishonoring the Fontana family and the Chairman with your insensitive insults. Leave before I report you to the Dorm Leader." His voice was cruel and had the intent of slicing off his head.
Mr. Tampon's hand immediately went to cover the cut as to not draw the other vampires to my bedroom. He fumed in his anger and humiliation that someone younger than he outmatched him.
Yet he managed to smile unkindly too. "I'll take my leave since you're here."
Just before he reached the door, I told him to watch his back. He turned around to make a remark, but stopped when he noticed my own homicidal glare.
"I will kill you one day," I promised.
He laughed disdainfully. "You don't have the strength or courage to kill someone."
Zero stepped in front of him, offered him another cold glare.
"Motsies, you are forgetting that she attends the Cross Academy—a school filled with vampires, and she's befriended many of them. Most won't need any persuasion to kill you…just a simple request," Zero, who had suddenly vanished from my sight and reappeared next to Mr. Tampon, whispered into the man's ears.
His voice was uneven when he responded to Zero. "We'll see…vampire."
He swiftly left the room, leaving the door opened.
Zero turned to me with an aggravated expression on his face. "He's more annoying than your father."
"I wouldn't know," I snorted. "So, who are you and what have you done with the real Zero?"
He frowned, a bit confused. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you don't normally threaten people for me."
"As I recall Kiren stating one day while you were gone, 'friends are people who despise the same people you do'."
Both of my eyebrows shot up in surprise. "She said that?"
He nodded, his shoulders relaxing. Then realization smacked me.
"I'm sorry, but did you just admit that we're friends?" Just as I was about to get my journal out to actually record the day, hour, and time, he appeared instantly at my side, startling me.
"HEY! DON'T DO THAT TO ME!" I shrieked.
"I came here because your father was worried about your academics…how is the make up work going?"
"It's…going," I told him ineptly.
"In other words, you've been procrastinating," he frowned.
"You said it, not me. So don't tell my brain. What it doesn't know won't hurt it."
"What?"
"Nothing. I just can't understand any of it. My brain is so drugged up that even the simplest forms of math and Japanese sentences look complicated," I sighed pitifully, handing over my schoolwork.
He took it from me and his eyes immediately started to scan for mistakes. "You're right. You're brain dead."
"You have such hope in me that it makes me sing with glee."
"I suppose it's not over till the fat lady sings?"
I whined immaturely. "Why is everyone picking on my weight? I ought to feed you to the rabid rapists."
He blankly stared at me. "You do realize that the fan girls are more afraid of me than I am of them?"
I scowled darkly. "Never mind. Just fix it and be gone."
"I don't even understand what you wrote."
I smirked idiotically. "That's because what goes on in my brain doesn't always make sense on paper."
He made an annoyed face and held up the paper to me. "Explain what you did."
"Awww, do I really have to?" I pouted.
"Fontana…"
"Okay, okay, chill out."
Thus we began a time-consuming lecture about math and after two hours I finally had everything squared away.
God, did I just say squared away? I've been brainwashed! By math!
"Fontana," Zero started to say before leaving my room.
"What?"
"I will be the one to train you once you're well," he informed me.
I stared at him, nearly shocked. "You're kidding."
"What kind of weapon are you good at handling?"
"Umm…needles?" I guessed, thinking that I should probably put the needle that was underneath my pillow on top of the table before I slept, or I might accidentally stab myself.
"Needles won't be good in battle since Vampires rarely suffer pressure points," he frowned.
"Well…uh…" I scratched my head thoughtfully and came up with a blank.
"Have you used anything in your past that could be used as a weapon?" he questioned, sighing as he did.
"I played softball using a baseball bat…does that count?"
He actually smiled.
Run and hide, people, run and hide.
"That's fine. When you're in better conditions, we'll start, but Sensei will ask you a question before you do," he informed me. "And I'll be back to check on your work and I better see some improvement."
"As much as a drugged mind will do!" I replied with a grin.
He rolled his eyes and muttered something about me being a weirdo. Why do they always say that like it's new?
He paused again at the door, drumming his fingers on the wall next to the door.
"If you want to say something, then say it," I told him, checking over my math work.
"Why...do you trust me?" He sounded unsure of himself. "You know I'm a vampire, and yet you still treat me like a friend."
"Because I'm too nice," I answered bluntly.
"Be serious Fontana."
"You don't think I'm nice?" I pouted.
He narrowed his eyes impatiently. "You and nice don't belong in a sentence together."
"You're so charming that I could barf."
"Just answer the damn question."
I shrugged, now looking at him. "I don't know. I mean...you've had chances to attack me but you never did. Not even when I was at my weakest. I think that counts for something."
He briefly stared at me until he gave me a small, boyish smile. "I'll see you later."
"So I hear that you want to be trained," Yagari-sama smirked and he grabbed a chair to sit with me. "How's the homework?"
"Sucking big time," I grunted and I threw the economics book on the bed. "Personally, I think they're the real vampires. They drain you to the point that you can't function."
He chortled. "That's a new way of putting it."
"And you heard right. Zero is going to train me," I smiled. "But he said you wanted to ask me something first."
"Ah," he sighed, sounding tentative. "There's something I do have to ask you."
"Spit it out then," I told him, not wanting to waste more time.
"There's a riddle you have to solve and I ask it to every potential vampire hunter," he explained.
"But I don't want to be a vampire hunter. I just want to kill my mother…as bad as that sounds," I mumbled.
He smiled sadly. "That doesn't mean I can't question you. I have to be sure you're a good candidate."
I frowned, wanting to argue with him but I knew I wasn't going to win the debate. "Fine. Riddle me."
"You can't have any outside help on this Serena. Not from Zero, Aidou, Kuran, Darako, your Mom or your Da-"
"I get the picture," I interrupted, scowling.
"And you have a week to solve it," he finished.
"Fine."
"Silent shadow stalking.
Sly slithering serpent.
Skeptical straying spirit.
Shivering sick skeletons.
Sadistic smiling scelerat.
Survive sinister surprises.
Suppress Sorcery."
Catching my puzzled expression, he explained even further. "Each line represents something that you have to overcome and in the end everything ties in together."
I groaned, deeply regretting my decision.
He put up his hands in his defense. "Up to you."
I sighed, shrugging. "I'll figure it out later. My head is running on empty."
He nodded and got up to leave. "Take your time…you've got seven days."
"How's the search on Miss Pinky?" I asked and he growled sourly.
"Not good. We can't find her and we suspect that she might have left the country to rejoin her family."
I blinked curiously. "She has family outside this country?"
"The Bokyo clan is a scattered family. After your clan attacked them back in the old ages, they fled to other countries in fear. The Heolstor clan was a feared and respected clan, even though it's mostly consisted of humans now," he informed me and cleared his throat. "We think they're taking refuge in Switzerland or Russia. They don't even attend to the Council of Ancients meetings anymore."
"So…hang on…you said my clan is consisted 'mostly' of humans now…does that mean that there are still a few vampires left in my family?" I inquired curiously yet I felt strange at the same time. It was kind of exciting.
I mean I could have a vampire for a great-great-great grandmother.
"You should ask your mother instead."
"Oh my God! I do have vampires in my family!" I shouted.
"Don't get overexcited Serena, you'll probably meet them one day anyway," he said, patting me on the head like I was a five year old. "Good luck solving it."
"Thanks," I grunted. "I'll need it."
"Oh and Serena, I heard what you did to Mr. Motsies."
"And?"
"No more public displays of cruelty," he said with a smirk.
"And I'll pretend that I didn't hear that," I answered roughly, folding the bed sheets over my lap.
I heard him chuckle and the door close when I picked up my book again, and then something rumbled. I blinked a few times and paused in my movements, thinking I might have created the noise, but after I heard nothing else I relaxed.
"The walls in this dorm burp...fabulous."
True to his word, Zero came around five P.M. to check my homework and wasn't too pleased with my progress.
"Not the brightest star in the sky, eh?" he said casually.
"Oh shut up."
"You're still not getting this right," he scowled, pointing at the incorrections on the worksheet.
"It's not my fault, okay? The Japanese language has way too many systems," I defended myself.
"This is basic katakana and kanji," he said. "And you're putting all the particles in the wrong places."
"All right smart ass," I growled. "Stop shoving my mistakes in my face and just go over it."
He sighed, frustrated. "This will waste my time."
"So sorry to be a pest."
"You're not truly sorry so don't apologize."
"Then quit your whining."
"I'm not whining," he snapped.
"Yea you are."
We glared at each other until he dropped the workbook on top of my lap.
"Write a few sentences and I'll watch. If I catch any mistakes, which I know I will, I'll explain why it's wrong," he replied calmly.
"Fine, but just to let you know, it's easier to speak a language than write a language," I told him, becoming cranky.
"I do know. I've been studying English and Spanish," he muttered under his breath.
I ignored his last comment, too busy focusing on my drawings--I mean writing. To be honest, writing Japanese makes me feel like an artist. I have to do all the curves and strokes perfectly or they'll look like a different letter. Hiragana was the first writing system I learned, obviously, and it was actually pretty easy. Katakana was hard only because it's different from Hiragana and remembering it was a pain in the rear because I would confuse it with Hiragana.
Kanji...was just a bitch.
"You're doing it again." I heard him grumble.
"Doing what? I haven't even formed a sentence yet."
He sighed. "Give me the notebook."
"Why? I told you I'm not done yet," I argued.
"Just give me it."
"No."
"Fontana..."
"I said no. Wait till I'm done and then you can act all superior and fix my mistakes."
He narrowed his eyes at me to scare me. "Give. Me. The. Notebook."
"Shut. The. Hell. Up. And. Wait."
That started another glaring contest.
He ran his hand through his hair and stopped at his forehead. "Why are you so god damn stubborn?"
"Because I am," I grinned and returned to my work.
This was going to be a long session.
I'm watching myself cook in the Skylar's kitchen. I don't remember what exactly I'm brewing but it smells good. I had Erica's iPod in my left hand and the music was blasting through the earphones. I could hear the music from where I was standing. The younger version of myself suddenly burst into song while waving the spatula wildly.
"At first when I see you cry it makes me smile—yea it makes me smile. At worst I might feel bad for a while, but then I just smile. I go ahead and smile."
Right as I did a really strange, childish dance to the song, Mrs. Skylar entered the kitchen and studied me suspiciously. I stopped singing after I noticed she was observing me.
"What?" I asked, trying to pretend I hadn't been dancing or singing. Only Erica has ever heard me sing before.
She smirked, taking the spatula from me. "You used to be such a sweet, little angel…what happened?"
The younger version of me laughed along with her.
I sighed, watching them from where I stood until I realized that Mrs. Skylar's face was deteriotating. Within seconds, I was staring at the dead Mrs. Skylar. I screamed loudly, jerking in my bed and fell off the bed with a crashing sound. It took me a few seconds to realize that I was still safely trapped in the Moon dorm. I breathed heavily, trembling and I stroked my arms to soothe myself.
CREAK
My head snapped up, catching a glimpse of shadowy figure on a black wooden horse that was rocking back and forth. The clouds outside moved past the moon and the moon's light was abruptly dumped into my room, revealing the figure to be a child-sized doll. It sat on the wooden horse with her legs on each side of it, staring at me. She had black, bouncy curls and horrid violet, cat-like eyes. A crooked smile was on her round, chalk white face as she rocked on the horse, which was creating the creaking noises.
"Oh, I'm going to have nightmares for the rest of my life," I muttered under my breath, loudly breathing in and out. I studied the doll, her hands wrapped around the neck of the horse, and visibly twitched when I saw her head tilt slowly to the right and she grinned.
Needless to say I started shrieking.
I was so fixed on the doll that I didn't even realize who barged into my room. Strong arms picked me up and I felt something thin and sharp puncture the skin on my arm. I slumped onto the floor, finally noticing the needle that medicated me and found myself blankly staring at the blonde vampire from an upside down angle.
"Serena…?" Mr. Bunny's voice questioned me lightly, as to not provoke any more violent spasms.
I whimpered in response, feeling incredibly woozy and Mr. Bunny forced me to sit in his lap, moving my head so I wouldn't be looking at him. My head slumped forward so that my hair covered my face, but through my bangs I could see that the doll was still there. It was half covered in shadows due to the cloud's traveling.
The muscles in my legs and arms tensed and I drew in a quick breath.
"Serena, calm down." The vampire placidly and patiently caressed my back. "You were just having another panic attack."
I retreated into his embrace, feeling more secured there. "There's a doll in the room."
He tried to force me to look at him in the eyes but I refused to move my head. My eyes were concentrated on the doll, which was still rocking back and forth, and I was half expecting her to wave at me.
He followed my gaze and frowned in concern. "Serena, there's no doll in this room."
"Yes, there is," I replied curtly.
"No there isn't," he sighed, a hand going through his hair.
"GOD DAMN IT HANABUSA! I'M NOT LYING!" I shouted, nearly hitting him with my elbow.
Naturally he dodged it, but he was studying me more carefully.
"What does it look like?" he asked, but I wasn't paying attention.
The disturbing creaking sound had stopped and I couldn't see the doll anymore. The horse was still there but it had no partner.
Where was the doll?
Unable to move because of the drug he gave me, I cowered in the vampire's arms. Sensing my discomfort, he picked me up in a way a groom would pick up his bride and placed me gently on the bed. For once I was grateful that his body was cold because mine was starting to feel feverishly hot and his body stole that heat, relaxing the sickening feeling in my stomach.
"Serena, what does the doll look like?" he repeated himself and the creaking sound started again.
As I kept my eyes on the doll, that was on the bloody damned horse again, I described her to him.
"I don't see her," he stated in a practical tone.
"Is there a slight chance that Kaede's ability is to create illusions?" I snapped, not liking his doubting tone and remembering Mom's words.
Level B vampires have powers.
He shook his head. "Kaede is known for her voice."
I propped a questionable eyebrow at him, forcing him to explain that the pink haired vampire was able to control people through the use of her voice. From the way he described it, it sounded as if she was a siren, singing to her victims to lure them to their doom. I sighed tiredly—it was three in the morning—and he leaned down to the point where he was getting really close to my forehead. Uncomfortable with him being too close, I sunk deeply into my bed to put more space between us and fidgeted.
He cocked his head, eyes suddeny red as if he was testing me. "Are you afraid of me?"
I growled to sound more confident. "You're an ass. I just got medicated—of course my nerves are going to be jittery!"
He didn't respond…just kept staring at me with those eyes. I was becoming more uncomfortable by the second, and the doll being there didn't help my case at all.
He was suddenly past my face and whispering into my ears, "Don't be afraid of me Serena."
I didn't utter a sound as I was too nervous to do so and I was trying my best to cover my neck... but then he began to nuzzle my ear.
"I'll protect you." His voice wasn't seductive nor possessive, but protective and reassuring. It caused all the tension in my muscles to cease and the nervous, fluttering bird in my chest to stop flapping its wings.
God damn him.
Wait no, isn't he already damned?
He left me a peck on the forehead and got up to leave, however, I grabbed his wrist and sat up. I placed his hand against my forehead, not wanting to look at him in the eyes and all my blood rushed to my cheeks in embarrassment.
After mustering all of my guts, I finally mumbled, "Stay."
"Huh?" He sounded surprised—not that I blame him. I was surprised myself, but there was no way in hell I was staying alone in this room with a frickin' disturbing doll and it's not like I can go camp out in his room.
I rolled my eyes. "Please stay?"
"I can't stay. Kaname-sama—"
"Plllleeeeaasseee stay?" I whined.
I watched him blink--his eyes were back to his normal blue hues--a few seconds in his confusion. "Why do you want me to stay?"
"Gawd damn it Hanabusa, I just said please and I practically begged. Does it really matter?"
He had the nerve to chuckle. "Yes, it does, because you never beg me or say please."
"Fine. Go back to your room," I growled stubbornly and threw his hand away, and lied back down on my bed, facing the wall.
I heard him sigh in frustration and walk away, but he never reached the door.
"Move over," he commanded, standing next to the bed.
I did as I was told and scooted closer to the wall to make room. He climbed into the bed, remaining over the covers and once again stole my pillow. "If Kaname-sama asks—"
"I'll say I blackmailed you and forced you to stay," I butted in, trying to pry my pillow out of his hands.
He furrowed his eyebrows, giving me half of the pillow to lay my head on. "Blackmailed me with what?"
"I don't know yet but I'll improvise."
He snorted, closing his eyes. "Hope you're good at it. You know, I don't understand you sometimes...most of the time..."
"If it helps you any...I don't understand myself at ALL," I smirked.
The doll and the horse disappeared the moment he accepted my offer.
I woke up at seven in the morning, hearing something crack and I immediately snapped into a sitting position. I looked in the corner of the bedroom where the doll had been the last time I was awake, but I found myself staring at Kaname standing close to the door. He was beyond annoyed, appearing more upset that the blonde vampire had disobeyed his orders. He lifted his right hand up and his eyes became more reddish.
"Leave him alone," I snapped hurriedly, eying his hand and wondered what he had planned to do with it.
Purebloods are not to be trusted.
Kaname stopped abruptly and stared at me as though I had been stupified. Yet moments later he tilted his head in a pleased way, a teasing smile on his face and he questioned me in a polite tone.
"You're protecting him, Miss Fontana?"
"I asked him to stay," I scowled, sleepy and annoyed.
He stared at me again, as if he was making sure he had heard right and a few seconds later he nodded his head. "Very well, good night."
He gently closed the door behind him and I sighed heavily, thankful he didn't go berserk. I rubbed my eyes tiredly, taking in my surroundings.
The disturbing doll and horse: gone.
Peeved Pureblood: gone.
Mr. Bunny: Currently taking all the blankets.
The last time I checked he was definitely on top of the blankets.
He was curled up with his back against me, astonishingly not snoring though I suppose that might be because vampires don't breathe. I smiled gently, beginning to play with his hair and found it so soft that I couldn't help myself--I braided some of his hair.
"Serena," said a gruff voice a couple of minutes later. "Did you just braid my hair?"
"Ha, I knew you were awake," I smirked.
"Liar."
"No, you winced the first time I touched your hair," I argued. "I knew you were awake."
He turned over to playfully glare at me. "You did braid my hair."
"Scoot over before I dye it pink too," I yawned and forced him to move when I gently shoved him.
I was, yet again, a little surprised at myself. Aren't girls normally more paranoid when a guy is in the same bed with them? And yet I don't feel anything but sleepy. When he moved over, I plopped myself next to him, burying my nose into his back and breathed in his scent.
I've become an addict.
It was a week later that I got a visit from Takuma, and thankfully by then I had showered three times and was well groomed. To my surprise, he came to me while it was during the early afternoon and he was grinning like a nut case too.
"Takuma, are you absolutely positive that you're a vampire?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
He grinned. "You're not the first person to ask me that."
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me," I smirked. "So how are you? I haven't seen much of you."
I think Takuma is the only polite person who doesn't get on my nerves--at least not anymore. Seeing him with Kiren left a positive imprint on me. A friend of Kiren is a friend of mine. I trust her judgment, not mine.
"Thought I would keep you some company since I couldn't sleep...my mind has been too active lately."
"Active?" I questioned him curiously and spotted a box of chocolate Poxie...or was it Poxy? I couldn't really tell from where I was sitting.
"Yes, I've been reading this new Manga and it's been driving me insane. I'm trying to figure out the next chapter--usually I can predict it since the authors are so stereotypical, but this one really--"
"Has you wrapped around its book covers," I interrupted, chuckling.
He laughed joyfully and it made me feel weird. Vampires were not normally this jolly...maybe he was a half-breed?
"So...what would you like to chat about then?" I changed topic.
He yawned, shrugging slowly at the same time and he appeared a little clueless as to what to discuss. "Well there's always drama to talk about."
I blinked. "Drama? What drama?"
Very, very stupid question.
"Kiryuu-kun loves Yuuki-chan who is engaged to Kaname-sama who is adored by Ruka who is loved by Akatsuki who is the cousin of Hanabusa." He took a deep breath. "And Hanabusa is the playboy of the Nightclass so he naturally attracts a lot of ladies except you..."
"Oh I bet Jerry Springer would have loved to have worked here," I muttered under my breath.
"Who?"
"Never mind, so...Zero loves Yuuki, huh? I didn't see that coming. Or the part that she's getting married to Mister..." I stopped, guessing that he respected the pureblood too and I didn't feel like getting an earful about him.
He smiled. "I'm surprised to hear you say that. His fondness for her is quite noticeable."
"Yea, well, I've been occupied," I yawned.
His face suddenly darkened. "How are you feeling these days? Not depressed, are you?"
"No...I'm fine," I replied reassuringly.
"Good," he responded swiftly.
I blinked a few times. "Takuma...something seems to be bothering you and you're not talking about it."
At least that would explain his odd behavior. A man who laughs the most, cries the most behind a mask.
A calm, sincere expression settled on his face. "I'm doing well, Miss Fontana. Thank you for your concern."
"Liar," I said boldly.
There was no response and as the silence grew longer, I began to feel more awkward and suspicious.
"You know Takuma, if there's something bothering you feel free to vent about it. I don't mind. Even if it's about a manga," I told him patiently.
A slow smile graced his features. "You're very kind, Miss Fontana, but my problems are not yours to solve."
"And yet you came to visit me to talk," I sighed, narrowing my eyes. "I say you're confused on what to do."
He shook his head slightly. "I came here to check on you."
"Orders from the Kuran?"
"Yes and no. I wanted to see you myself," he stated firmly.
I swear these people live for awkward moments.
"Right, well, I'm fine," I mumbled, the blush still on my cheeks.
He gave me a curt nod. "Then I'll be heading back. I'll give news to Hanabusa. I assume he hasn't been in this room since you allowed him to stay over?"
"Yep. He hasn't been punished, has he?"
"No, just kept busy," he answered, another smile playing on his lips. "I'll go now. Good luck with your studies, Miss Fontana."
"Thanks but Takuma...just call me Serena. You don't have to be so formal. I'm not royalty or whatever."
To be honest, being called by Mom's maiden name felt really odd. Rather like I was a property to the family instead of my own person.
"Very well, Miss Serena," he said and he left before I could say anything else.
I don't own the song "Smile" by Lily Allen.
Air embolism: When you put too much air (making air bubbles) in an artery, you can create severe damage to your body. And it can go as far as a stroke or death.
I played on Serena's positive traits in this chapter, such as her ability to observe people's behavior and understand their issues (minus the love drama since she doesn't have experience with relationships), and permits others to use her as a vent for their emotions. So in basic terms, she's everyone's therapist. Anyone want to solve the riddle? o.O
Okay, so chapter sixteen is taking me forever to write. Be patient!!