Elizabeth was about to walk out of the hall when someone grabbed her wrist. She turned her head and saw Takuma standing there, "Didn't you promise me a dance, Riji-chan?"
His cheeky smile made her laugh a little, "Yes and I don't go back on my promises." she let him pull her onto the dancefloor. Kisetsu gave her a bright smile as she danced with one of her fanboys. As the music started to play, Takuma led her across the dancefloor in a slow waltz. She could feel somebody watching her and a shiver went down her spine. Elizabeth turned her head to see Kaname's eyes on her while dancing with Yuuki. She tried to avoid his gaze, but it was incredibly hard. She couldn't forget the way he kissed her. He had taken her mouth with such finesse and exquisite sensuality. She didn't ever want it to end. His lips had lulled her into sweet submission and she was glad to give herself to him.
As the dance ended, Elizabeth curtsied, thanked Takuma for the dance and walked away. Takuma turned towards the balcony. Yuuki had left Kaname on the balcony. He walked towards him and noticed the French windows had cracked severely.
"I noticed that you have eyes for Riji-chan," Takuma said cheerily. Kaname turned his head.
"Yes...I suppose I do..." he said quietly. Takuma was certainly surprised by this admission. It seemed strange that Kaname would fall for someone who wasn't Yuuki. What was it about her that made her so...special? It wasn't like Kaname to lavish the same attention on anybody else other than "his dear girl". It wasn't that Takuma was knocking Elizabeth, it just felt strange to him.
"If you don't mind me asking, what is it about Riji-chan that you like so much," Takuma asked. Kaname was silent for a moment.
"As you well know, Ichijo, I am the progenitor of the Kuran family," he said seriously and Takuma nodded, "Well, before I "died", over 10,000 years ago, I had a lover and her name was Naomi. I won't go into details, but she died for a cause that should have been settled by myself. I believe that Erisabesu is the reincarnation of my past lover Naomi." Takuma was silent, completely dumbstruck and trying to take it all in, "I can sense that she isn't just a Level C vampire, no, I can sense she is not who she seems."
"Are you sure," Takuma asked. Kaname nodded stiffly.
"As I kissed her, I felt such a deja vu or rather...nostagia...it felt strange. It was as if I was back when I was one of the first vampires again," Kaname went silent again for a long time. Takuma frowned slightly. He wasn't even sure if Elizabeth was truly aware of who she actually was. He could only hope that she was prepared to take the responsibility of her true identity.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth was striding out if the ballroom. Her heart was beating wildly, knowing that she hadn't completed her mission that Maria had set her. But she didn't care. Her affection for Kaname would not allow her to kill him. It would have to take all the purebloods in the world to make her kill him. Even then, she would try to resist for his sake.
Elizabeth heard running foot steps behind her. She turned her head and saw Kisetsu standing in front of her, "Riji-chan, where are you going," she asked, a worried gleam in her large eyes.
"Kise-chan, go back inside," Elizabeth said urgently, "This does not concern you."
"I won't. Not until you tell me what's going on."
Elizabeth went silent, unable to speak. She didn't know what to do. Telling Kisetsu would drag her into something that did not concern the young pureblood. Elizabeth's expression turned dark, "It does not concern you, Kisetsu, go back inside," she said forcefully. Kisetsu glared at her.
"Don't use that tone with me, Erisabesu," she said, her tone equally as dark, "Do not forget that I am your social superior in every way. Now, tell me what's going on!"
Elizabeth stood her ground, "No."
Elizabeth then found herself shoved up against one of the pillars by her throat before she could even blink. Kisetsu glared a hard glare at Elizabeth.
"Will this make you tell me?"
"I...don't...want...to...drag...you into...this..." Elizabeth choked. Kisetsu shoved her deeper into the pillar, causing some rubble to go everywhere, "This isn't the way to get it out of me...I'd rather die than let you get involved. Go on...kill me...It will be the best thing for me. I have no way out now."
Kisetsu's grip on her friend's neck tightened a little, causing Elizabeth to struggle even more for the little breath she had left. However, she swallowed and let go of Elizabeth's neck. Elizabeth slumped to the ground, choking and spluttering. She looked up at Kisetsu and put a hand to her own throat. She also had a dull ache at the back of her head. She put a hand to the back of her head and touched it gingerly. She looked back at her hand and gasped sharply when she saw blood on her hand.
"You wounded me..." Elizabeth choked. Kisetsu knelt beside her, making Elizabeth cower away from her.
"Look at me, Riji-chan," Kisetsu said gently, "Please tell me...I only want to help you."
Elizabeth gazed at Kisetsu before sighing, "You want to know? Fine, I'll tell you. Maria Kurenai is not who she claims to be. Her sweet and life act is false as well. She wants me to kill Kaname as well."
Kisetsu pulled back a little, her large eyes widening a little more, "Riji-chan, why didn't you tell me? I'm a pureblood vampire, I can help you!"
"I told you," she cried, "I don't want to drag you into anything that doesn't concern you!"
"I think it clearly does. You are being ordered to kill one of my kind, a pureblood. Don't you agree that it is only natural that I get involved?"
"Yes, but-"
"Yes but nothing," Kisetsu said impatiently, "You must allow me to help you!"
Elizabeth staggered to her feet, "Fine," she muttered, "Help all you want. But your help will not free me from the curse I am under. It will not free me from Rido Kuran."
"Riji-chan, I will do everything in my power to help you...if you'll let me," Kisetsu said, grasping Elizabeth's hand. Elizabeth hesitated before nodding.
"All right," she croaked, "You can help." she then turned away and began to stride away from the building. Kisetsu followed her, making sure that she didn't lose her.
"Where are we going?"
"We're going to the old dorm that that the Night Class first lived in. I believe that Maria Kurenai is there."
"Ah..." Kisetsu bit her lip before nodding. They approached the building and they paused before Elizabeth opened the door. She could sense Maria's presence and could smell her scent. They crept forward and over to the main reception room.
Sure enough.
Maria Kurenai was sitting delicately on the chaise facing them. She giggled like a little girl. Maria was dressed in a black silk dress with puffed sleeves. There was lacy black choker around her neck with black, tear shaped diamonds lacing it. On her hands were more black lace that exposed her fingers. On her feet she wore black high healed shoes, that laced up her legs. In her hair, there was a black ribbon tied at the side of her head.
"Well, Riji-chan, have you succeeded in your task," she asked innocently. Elizabeth was on the verge of baring her fangs at Maria.
"Oh, drop the act, Maria," she growled, "You know as well as I do that I haven't."
"Oh, dear," Maria said sweetly but with a dangerous edge to her voice. She stood up and walked over to Elizabeth, cuppin her now petrified face, "What am I going to do with you now? You're clearly useless and now I have no use for you. I'll rid Rido Kuran of a useless servant who has fallen in love with her target."
"Not while I'm around, Maria," Kisetsu growled, "You will not harm her."
Maria turned her attention to Kiseteu, who had a sharp hand aimed at the side of Maria's neck, ready to strike.
"Kisetsu-san, how nice to see you," Maria said with a fake sweetness. It made Kisetsu want to be sick. Maria turned back to Elizabeth. She snarled and smacked Elizabeth's cheek hard. It sent her to the ground and found that Maria's manicured nails or rather, talons had caught her cheek, leaving long, bleeding claw lines across her cheek. Elizabeth glared up at her defiantly. Maria stood over her and grabbed her by the collar of her dress and ripped it with the other hand. However, Kisetsu sent an aura blast in Maria's direction. Maria turned her head and easily deflected it, causing Kisetsu's own attack to backfire and blast her back, sending her flying into the wall. This knocked out her completely unconscious. Elizabeth stared on helplessly and in horror.
Then, a silver haired young man walked in with the body of a beautiful woman in his arms. He wore a mask so she couldn't make out his face. The unconscious woman had long silver hair with a pale complexion and she was wearing a white and lavender coloured kimono, "Behold, Riji-chan," she said, dropping Elizabeth roughly, "This...is my real body." she walked over to the unconscious woman and touched her hand. The woman stared from her sleep and a sickening smirk twisted upon her lips. Maria dropped to the ground in a heap. Elizabeth's eyes widened at the sight of it.
"Do you like what you see," she asked, hopping down gracefully from the young man's arms. Elizabeth tried to shuffle herself away, but the woman was quick, "My real name is Shizuka Hiou and I will be the last thing you ever see." she clicked her fingers and the young man strode over to Elizabeth. He picked her up roughly and adjusted her into a standing position. His grip on her arms were likened to iron and they bruised her delicate flesh. As Shizuka bared her fangs, Elizabeth whimpered, trying to put some distance between them by straining her neck and Shizuka smirked. She lowered her lips to Elizabeth's neck.
Suddenly, a click of a gun was heard and it startled Shizuka, "SHIZUKA! Let. Her. Go!" he rough voice shouted. Shizuka, upon realising who it was, smirked and mercilessly ripped her fangs into Elizabeth's neck...
To be Continued...