Chapter 9

Marinel leaned against the tree overlooking the lake, watching the sunset and only getting a minor burn on her face. She could watch that sunset a million times and never get tired of it, it was always something she felt normal people took for granted.

She must have stayed there for a while taking everything in, from the waves of the lake to the wind blowing against the trees. However the sound of grass being crushed drew her attention as she slightly glanced behind her.

-"Here you are Mari-chan."- Tamao stepped closer to her.

"Hey love, didn't expect to see you here."

-"What are you doing here all alone?"-

"Just enjoying the view." She turned her gaze to Tamao, "Is something wrong sugar?"

-"No, I was going to ask you the same thing. Ever since we came back from the club you've looked different."-

"Oh speaking of which! I think I found us another place to go!" Marinel said with a smile.

Tamao however kept a serious face which made Marinel sigh, "Okay yeah, you're right."

-"What's wrong?"-

"I've had a lot on my mind."

-"Like what?"-

"It's the same for me everywhere, I'm hated everywhere I go, you have no idea how much I put up with this, I mean... shit," she scoffed, "I was hunted down once!"

-"Nani!?"-

"I know, can ya fucking believe that, sugar?" She leaned back on the tree, "There were these two vampires that found me and wanted to kill me right on the spot, and they cornered me, spitting out bullshit about how I wasn't a true vampire and was just a mockery. So I knew I would have to fight or die."

-"What happened to them?"-

"I'm still here," She looked at her hands, "And they're not." She simply said, "Half-blood or not, I'm not worthless as a vampire."

-"Mari-chan, that's so horrible that they would want to harm you."- Tamao stepped closer to her and held her hand.

"Sometimes I wish I wasn't a half-blood."

-"Don't say that Mari-chan, don't be ashamed of who you are and if you weren't a half-blood we would have never met." Marinel turned her gaze to her.

"Well, I suppose." She chuckled softly, "I would've burned to a crisp the moment I arrived here."

There was a small silence between the two, -"What else is bothering you Mari-chan?"-

"What that girl said, say hi to my dead mother and father… I know my mom passed away, but my dad is still alive right? I mean he can't be dead right? I've never thought about this till now."

"I suppose it's about time you knew the truth Evelyn."

The two snapped their gaze to the shadows, seeing a man with grey hair, a goatee and in a grey suit.

"Elder one!" Marinel quickly got on one knee.

"There is no need for that child." He placed a hand on her chin and gestured for her to stand, "I may be old, but stuff like that," He laughed, "I can't stand it. People try so hard to please me, it gets quite annoying."

"You knew my parents?" She asked getting straight to the point.

"Of course I did Evelyn."

"Please don't call me that."

"And why wouldn't I, it's a beautiful name and your mother was beautiful, you're the splitting image of her," He said, "Hell your father was one of my closest friends, I knew him since he first became a vampire."

Marinel was just as surprised as Tamao, though she felt as if she didn't belong in this conversation.

"What happened to him?"

He sighed, "Well Evelyn, you should know the truth sooner or later but you were told that your father disappeared to protect you and left you in our care," She nodded, "Well I'm sorry to say and it hurts me to even mention this but, He was murdered." Marinel froze, "You remember our enemy clan of vampires right?" Marinel didn't even say anything, "Well if you remember, they don't exactly agree with us hiding a half-blood or not harming humans."

Marinel's hands began to shake, her eyes began to water.

"Well they found him and… well he was—"

"Okay that's enough." Tamao interrupted as she reached over to hold her.

"And… and my mother? Did she really die giving birth to me?"

He rubbed his beard, "No."

Marinel's nails dug deep into her skin, enough to draw blood as it dripped onto the grass.

"Do you wish to know?" He saw her nod, "Your mother was alive well after you were born, oh how she loved you. I was there when she introduced you to me and I could already tell you were different, never seen a half-blood before as I've only heard of them." He smiled but it quickly faded, "One night, your father came to me and gave you to me and told me, that when he came back home he found your mother burning at the stake for birthing a 'demon', she was hailed a witch that made a pact with the devil. You were to die next but your father saved you before such a thing could happen."

Tears were falling off Marinel's face as she silently sobbed.

"But that's what happened." He said, "Well I must go now, and do not worry about being a half-blood, not a lot of vampires even believe they exist anymore." He looked at Tamao, "You take care of her."

-"I-I will."-

"I know my clan always says nonsense about avoiding contact with humans but I don't really care. Just take care of her." He looked at Marinel, wanting to hold her but he knew she needed her space and with a heavy heart he left them alone and vanished into the night.

-"Mari-chan?"-

Marinel was gritting her teeth tightly, her fists were clenched, her eyes regained their crimson glow and finally she could take it no more, she let out a scream of pure rage and sorrow, echoing through the forest and the night sky.

-"Mari-chan I'm here for you."-

However in her rage she slammed her fist into a tree, cracking and bent it to the point the tree looked like it would fall any second.

-"Mari-chan, please you have to try and calm down!"- Tamao held Marinel, she could almost feel all the rage emanating from her.

However, Marinel did something Tamao was not expecting.

She flung Tamao off her, sending her flying a couple yards away from her and she came to a tumbling stop on the ground.

In her rage she rammed her fist into a boulder, smashing it in half and almost brought down another tree.

"Humans are all the same!" Marinel screamed in anger, "Killing anything you don't understand! Why should I not harm humans when all of you won't hesitate to do that to me!"

Tamao raised herself, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her garlic spray but immediately decided against it, -"Mari-chan, that's not true! We're not like that!"-

"Liar!"

-"I'm not a liar! Look at us! We're your friends, we would never harm you!" She stepped closer to Marinel.

Marinel turned her back to her, her fists clenched tight.

"Please believe me Mari-chan, we're your friends."

Marinel groaned in anger as she feel to her knees, trying everything to suppress her anger and she began to pound her fist on the soft grassy ground, each hit going deeper in the earth.

-"Mari-chan! It's okay, I'm here for you, please try to calm down."- Tamao ran to her and held her, and it seemed to be having an effect as Marinel bent over, her head on the ground and her hands clawing at the dirt as she tried to suppress her anger.

Tamao pulled Marinel, letting her head rest on her chest and held her tightly as Marinel panted and wanting nothing to explode again.

Shorty after Tamao could feel Marinel's body began to finally relax and her eyes returned to their green color.

There was a long silence between them, Marinel never moved from Tamao, she actually enjoyed being held by her and was actually a big cause to her calming down.

"It finally makes sense to me," She said, "Now I understand why my father only visited me a few times when I was living in that mansion and why he stopped coming."

-"Gomen Mari-chan, it's terrible that it happened to you."

"Part of me wants to go kill them, kill the people that killed my father."

-"Mari-chan you can't that's not like you, that's them and you are nothing like them."- Tamao began to gently stroke Marinel's arm, -"And I don't want to lose you."-

"Lose me?" She chuckled, "that would never happen." Marinel was fully relaxed as Tamao held her in her arms.

Tamao then laid back as Marinel rested her head on her and was fully calm now and just wanted to enjoy this more.

"You know how long it's been since someone has held me like this love?"

-"Well I'm glad to know you're back to normal."- She smiled, then began to stroke her head softly, -"So how long has it been?"-

"Too long…" She closed her eyes, "I've forgotten how good this feels."

-"I've never held anyone like this."- Tamao closed her eyes, -"I love this."-

"Mmm, you're not the only one sugar." She looked up at her, "We should probably get going before they close the gates."

-"Yeah we should."- The two reluctantly stood up and began to walk back to the dorms, however as they walked Marinel snuck a glance at Tamao and with a smirk she reached over and held her hand, sending a wave of surprise through Tamao's body. Her face was flushed with the biggest smile ever and returned to the dorms.

They finally made it to Tamao's room and stopped in front of the door, "Well, I shall see you later love."

-"Y-yes, would you want to do something tomorrow?"-

"Hmm, of course." She then kissed her cheek and Marinel began to walk back to her own room as was Tamao as she opened her door, however halfway Marinel stopped and turned to look at Tamao, "Hey Tamao."

-"Yes?"- She looked at her.

Marinel was grateful for calming her down once again, "Did I thank you?"

Tamao knew what she meant, -"No."-

Marinel nodded with a smirk, "I will." Then continued to walk back to her room.

Tamao smiled and closed the door behind her, she placed her hands on her heart and gave the biggest and warmest smile as she couldn't believe it herself.

-"Tamao-chan!"- Nagisa jumped from under the blanket and leapt onto her best friend, embracing her in a tight hug.

-"Did you hear that too Nagisa-chan?"- She giggled.

She nodded happily, -"She loves you Tamao-chan!"- She then began to shove Tamao out the door, -"Now go tell her how you feel!"- she said with a huge grin on her face, -"And I'm not letting you back in here till you do!"-

Tamao only chuckled, she was right. She decided to go and tell Marinel right now how she felt about her.

As Marinel walked to her room she felt like someone was rushing her and when she turned around she saw Momomi approach her.

"Oh, hello love."

-"Hey."- Momomi greeted her, -"Look before you say anything, I just want to say that I've thought about you what you said, about living for a long time with you and… I can't do it."- Momomi said, -"The more I think about it, the more I know that I won't handle it."- She said to her, -"And it sucks because you are hot as hell and someone I think I could be with but even if it's for a short life time I know I won't like it… as much as I want to be"-

"I understand love." Marinel pressed her hand on Momomi's cheek.

-"So I hope you're not angry."-

"Of course not sweetie."

-"Just promise me you'll come see me every now and then."- Marinel nodded with a smile on her face.

"What will you do now?"

-"I don't know, travel once I leave this place, hell maybe I might find someone."- Momomi gave a half smile as she looked at Marinel and embraced her, -"See you around Mari."- She retreated back to the Spica wing of the dorms.

"See ya tomorrow love." she watched Momomi leave, waving her hand in the air as she left.

-"Mari! there you are!"-

She saw Shizuma running towards her, "Ah Shizuma, is there something wrong?"

"I just needed to see you." She pulled Marinel closer to her.

"Well well," She giggled, "On any other day I'd find this hot as hell." she then pulled away slowly, "Oh how would've loved to have all three of you..." she said silently, "But Shizuma... my heart belongs to another."

-"Nani?!"- She said in shock, -"But I thought what we had was something great?"-

"It was, but it was never definite with me." Marinel said, "But that doesn't mean that what we had together was a distraction or a waste of time because it wasn't love."

-"I...I see."-

"But don't feel bad love, there is still a girl out there that is crazy for you." She said as she saw Shizuma look at her, "A certain red head love." It took a while for Shizuma to realize what she meant.

-"Is this true?"-

She nodded, "Why don't ya ask her yourself sugar."

-"It won't be the same."-

"Give it time sweetie, it'll all be better." she gave her a hug.

Shizuma only sighed, -"I would hope so."- She gave Marinel one final kiss and left on her way.

"Well... that went better then expected," She chuckled, "As to be expected from the 'playgirl' of Astraea." She giggled, "Quite the name."

She then retreated back into her room.

Tamao made it to Marinel's room, her heart was pounding loudly that she could hear it with her own ears and she slowly raised her fist and knocked on the door.

Those few moments felt like an eternity for Tamao as she waited for that door to open and be greeted by the girl she found to be so beautiful. She heard the knob began to turn and there she was, "Oh hello love."

Tamao however stepped closer and said, "I want you to thank me right now."

"Oh I see," Marinel giggled and saw Tamao fidget with her fingers, she then leaned in and this time, she lovingly kissed Tamao and it was a moment of pure bliss as their lips locked with one another.

They separated slightly, -"I love you Mari-chan."- Tamao whispered softly.

"It's been a while since I've felt love towards someone. I mostly desired others, but love was never there but with you..." Marinel stepped aside and allowed her inside her room.

-"Can I stay the night?"-

Marinel giggled, "You know you don't have to ask sugar."

The two kissed for a moment longer, -"Will you be here when I wake up?"- She asked.

"I wouldn't be anywhere else love, but first." She reached under her bed and pulled out another blood bag.

-"Where did get those?"-

"I stole them from a hospital, good way to keep my urges in check... however this is my last one." She tore the corner and drank it down.

-"I thought you were going to try and keep yourself from drinking blood?"-

"It's been... alot harder then I thought." Marinel went to the bathroom to wash her mouth.

-"You have to try, for me."-

She came back and gave a smile, "Alrighty, I'll do it for you sugar."

-"Now come to bed with me."- She patted the bed so she could sit down.

The two laid down and Tamao drifted to sleep while she held her girlfriend.

Marinel stared up, she looked at Tamao and kissed her forehead, "Thank you Tamao." she turned her body and held her more tightly and closed her eyes, hoping to dream with her newly found love and hoped the next day would be just as great.

However, a smile formed on Tamao's face as she heard Marinel finally say 'thank you' to her and snuggled closer to her.

A/N: Okay these updates are taking longer then I'm comfortable with, I haven't forgotten this story it's just been getting harder for me to write and I hate it cause i'm always thinking of new things i can do and I keep wondering if it can work with the story. but anyway, this story may have a few more chapters left till i'm done. Anyway i'm hoping you guys are enjoying this story, have a good day :D