A/N I don't own Vampire Knight, nor do I make any profit from it

Chapter 31 - Grief

Elizabeth allowed herself to be led away as she numbly stared into space. Her parents had been vampires and she hadn't even been aware of it. She didn't even think to try and sense it. How long had they been vampires? How long had they been suffering? Were they even aware that they were vampires? If so, why hadn't her mother told her she was a vampire when she did?

Hundreds of questions went through her troubled mind. As she walked, her legs were beginning to give up and she was faintly aware of Kaien holding her up as she attempted to walk, "Mum…Dad…" she mumbled continuously, "They're dead…"

"Miss Watson, don't give up," Kaien whispered as he held her up when her body refused to cooperate, "It's just a little further."

Elizabeth then fell to her knees and her tears cam thick and fast. She wailed and cried uncontrollably. Kaien gazed at her through sorrowful eyes. His fatherly instincts told him to help her and so he did. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder in a fireman's lift. She barely registered him do this and didn't struggle against the much stronger headmaster. Elizabeth closed her eyes and tried to forget the horrific image of her parents turning to dust before her very eyes.

Eventually, she found herself being laid on, what felt like, a soft bed. She opened her eyes and turned her head, "Headmaster Cross, where am I?"

"You're in one of my guestrooms," he said with a compassionate smile, "Stay here until you have calmed down. Maybe then you can take part in the battle. Until then, stay here."

With that, Kaien disappeared out of the room and closed the door behind him. Elizabeth stared at the spot where her Headmaster had been. She then turned her head to look up at the ceiling. Her tears rolled down cheeks and she could hear the screams of former innocent humans being turned to dust. Her heart ached for the lives of the innocent ex-humans.

"Rido, you bastard," she whispered, "You've ruined so many lives. I just want to go home. My life was just fine before I came to this God forsaken place," she wiped her tears away but they continued to fall, "But then I would not have met Kaname and rekindled after a 10,000 year gap; I would never have found out who I really was…"

Kuro, who had followed up behind them, jumped onto the bed and nuzzled her, "Riji-sama, I am so sorry."

Elizabeth shook her head, indicating that it wasn't his fault. She sat up and sniffed. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, walking over to the window. Upon opening the window, Elizabeth spotted Yuuki and Aidou running past. She turned on her heel and tore the door open. She ran down the stairs and through the unlocked door with Kuro close behind.

"Yuuki," Elizabeth cried, "Aidou, wait for me!"

Yuuki and Aidou stopped and turned around upon hearing their names being shouted. When Elizabeth caught up to them, she panted and caught her breath, "What's been happening with you, Erisabesu" Yuuki asked. Elizabeth looked up at her for a moment before looking away, her fringe hiding her eyes.

"I faced a gang of Level Es before," Elizabeth said softly, "But I found that my parents had been turned into vampires. They were within the crowd…they were Level Es. I had to kill them."

Yuuki and Aidou blinked in shock, "How did that happen," Yuuki asked, clearly horrified.

"I think it was your uncle…Rido Kuran," Elizabeth replied bitterly. Yuuki looked back at Aidou with regret and then turned back to Elizabeth.

"It seems that he hasn't just stopped at my family," Yuuki said, looking down at her feet and fidgeting with her hands. Elizabeth sighed and laid a hand on her shoulder, "I heard all about from Kaname."

"Don't blame yourself, Yuuki," Elizabeth said with a small smile, "It is not your fault that you have an uncle who takes pleasure in twisting the fates of the innocent in sadistic ways."

Yuuki stared at Elizabeth before nodding. She threw her arms around Elizabeth and hugged her tightly. Elizabeth, who was initially shocked by this gesture, hugged her back. Then, Elizabeth turned her head and whispered, "You don't hate me, do you?"

"For what," Yuuki asked, pulling back. Elizabeth turned her gaze to the ground and placed her hands on Yuuki's shoulders, "I don't hate you."

"But…you loved Kaname…and I've taken him away from you, haven't I?"

"You haven't taken him away from me," Yuuki said kindly, "He's still my brother."

"But isn't it all right to marry your siblings," Elizabeth asked. Yuuki blinked and nodded.

"Yes, but…I have been a human for most of my life and do not approve of the idea of marrying my elder brother. It doesn't stop me from adoring him though. I am glad that he had found someone who loves him back and that is you. You make him happy and will one day be the mother of his children."

Elizabeth blushed slightly, "Well, I don't know about that…"

"You'll marry him, won't you, Erisabesu-sama," Yuuki asked expectantly. Elizabeth laughed nervously before they heard Aidou clear his throat impatiently.

"I hate to interrupt you both," he said, clearly trying to keep his cool, "There is a battle going on here."

"Oh, we know that, Aidou, stop being so impatient," Elizabeth said dismissively. Aidou crossed his arms over his chest and 'hmphed' in annoyance, "But you are right; we have to go."

"Apparently, there has been an influx of Level Es entering the academy over the past couple of hours," Aidou added. Elizabeth nodded.

"I know and my parents were Level Es," she stated bitterly, "Are there more Level Es on campus?"

"According to reports, there are," Aidou said with disgust, "But not only that, if you concentrate, you can smell them too."

Elizabeth sniffed and wrinkled her nose when she realised what he meant, "Ah, I see what you mean…"

Suddenly, they heard a scream of terror. Yuuki turned on her heel and ran in the direction of the scream, "That's Yori!"

"Who is Yori," Elizabeth called after as she quickly followed her. Aidou suddenly found that he was alone and he growled in frustration.

"How hard is it to keep two female purebloods from running off into danger," he cried out. He too ran off in that direction, hoping to catch the two girls and a cat up.

When Yuuki, Elizabeth, Aidou and Kuro found the source of the scream, Yori, they saw a couple of Level Es about to attack her, "You will not attack her," Yuuki cried as she shielded Yuri with her body, "You will have to come through me first!"

Yuuki tried to pull Artemis from the holster around her thigh but it fizzed and buzzed in her hands. She gasped and dropped it suddenly, leaving her defenceless. The Level Es cackled gleefully as they spotted Elizabeth and Yuuki, "It's the pureblood princesses! We will capture them for our master!"

Aidou quickly conjured some ice and froze one of the Level Es which had leapt into the air and Elizabeth turned the other to dust with a simple flash of her eyes. The ice shattered, leaving the Yori to watch in horror.

"Yuuki," Yori cried, "Is that you?"

Yuuki turned to Yori with a regretful look in her wine coloured eyes, "Sorry, Yori, but I am the same as the beings who have just attacked you. I am sorry. I would also understand if you don't want to be-"

Yori threw her arms around Yuuki and held her tightly, "I don't care what you are, Yuuki! You know that I am your best friend and I accept you what you maybe," Yori cried. Yuuki stood there in both shock and amazement as she let her best friend hold her.

"Yori," Yuuki whispered. Elizabeth looked back at Aidou and Kuro, sighing softly.

"Yuuki, Yori should go back to the school building," Elizabeth said, "She isn't safe out here."

Yuuki nodded and turned to Aidou, "Would you take her back to the school hall?"

"I would but…you need to be protected or Kaname-sama will have a fit," Aidou said fretfully. Yuuki scowled at him but Elizabeth placed a hand on her shoulder.

"He's right," she said seriously, "You are the one Rido is after."

"But I need to fight and play my part," Yuuki cried, "Am I not a pureblood too? And another thing, aren't you also the one Rido is after?"

"Yes, we are both victims of Rido's malice," Elizabeth replied solemnly, "But you have been a vampire no less and no more than twelve hours. The difference between you and me is that I have had time to get used to my powers and who I once was. I have grown accustomed to it," Elizabeth turned to Aidou, "Take Yuuki back to the Moon Dorm and make sure she gets some rest. Kaname will want that. Meanwhile, I will take Miss Yori back to the school hall. I think that's where the rest of the students are."

"But," Yuuki tried to protest when Yori picked up her Artemis and placed in back in the holster around Yuuki's leg.

"I will go with your pureblood friend, Yuuki," Yori said sadly, "But I want you to know, you will always be my best friend…no matter what happens."

"Oh, Yori," Yuuki said as she embraced her once more. She let go of Yori and then turned to Elizabeth, "Erisabesu-sama, please take her to the school hall as you said."

Elizabeth nodded and jerked her head in the direction of the school hall at Yori. Yori nodded and followed her in that direction. Yuuki turned her head toward Aidou, "Please, Aidou, let me fight…please."

"No," Aidou said as he placed a hand over her eyes, "Kaname-sama does not want you to fight because you are but a child," with a flash of blue light, Yuuki's legs began to crumple from under her and she fell into a deep sleep, "Sorry, Yuuki-sama, but you're not going to fight not this time."

When Elizabeth had finally delivered Yori back to her classmates in the school hall, she ran back in the school grounds. She blinked as she notices that something was very wrong.

It was silent and it made her feel uncomfortable.

Kuro, who was standing next to her, looked up and sniffed the air, "It seems that Level Es are coming but they are scattered throughout the school grounds."

"Well, I don't have much to lose now do I," Elizabeth answered, "I should just lose myself in battle."

Kuro gave a low hiss and snarled at her, "You know that's not true, Riji-sama! You are much loved and still have people who care about you. Kaname-sama relies on you as his lover and companion; I rely on you for care and friendship; Kisetsu loves you as the best friend you are. Yes, you have lost your parents, but that is no excuse to not keep living for them and the people who love you now. Don't ever give up."

Elizabeth stared at him for a moment before sinking to her knees and gathering her feline friend into her arms. She couldn't care less as the dusty, rain thirsty ground soiled her knees and edges of her white uniform skirt, "You're right, Kuro-kun, I do have a lot to love for. You're a very wise cat…but then again…you're not really a cat, are you?"

"No, that's true," Kuro whispered, "But you can think of me as a cat if you want to; I don't mind."

Elizabeth smiled slightly before she heard a loud cackle. She turned her head and saw an insane Level E running at her with eyes glowing red, fangs bared and elongated, sharp laws which were ready to tear her limb from limb.

"For our master," the Level E cried. Before Elizabeth could think to or even begin to defend herself, a flash of fire was launched past her and disintegrated the Level E into ashes. Shocked, Elizabeth turned her head to see Kain, Ruka and Seiren behind her.

"Princess Erisabesu," Ruka cried, "Are you all right?"

Elizabeth nodded and the three vampires ran in front of her, "We heard about your parents' deaths, princess, we are deeply sorry. We heard it from Headmaster Cross," Ruka said regretfully, "But you must mourn them when this is over."

"I know that," Elizabeth grumbled, "What's been going on with you?"

Kain turned to her, "We have been trying to keep the level of Level Es down. I assume you've been doing the same?"

"Yes," Elizabeth whispered, "But my real goal is for you to help me kill Rido Kuran."

"Kill Rido Kuran," Ruka cried, "That's madness! We'll never manage it."

"Perhaps not," Elizabeth said as she placed Kuro on the floor, "But we have to try."

Please Review!