Hello. I wrote this in 2020, took a 3 year break and continued it in 2023. I am reposting since I have now rewritten what was originally submitted in 2020. While this story starts similarly to Diabolik Lovers, I definitely have taken it in my own direction now.

Quick warning: There is definitely some non-con "romance" in this story which SHOULD NOT BE CONDONED IN REAL LIFE. I feel weird posting this without letting the reader know.

Eighteen years ago, a tightly bundled up infant awoke on the concrete steps of a church. Her few golden tufts of hair swayed in the wind and when one gust caused wiry branches to creak and startle her, the little girl wailed and cried. Her tiny hands clenched a silver locket with a single rose etched onto its face. A man of the church took pity on this child that night and raised her as his own. The girl's blonde hair grew long and fell past her shoulders in waves. The man taught her the importance of good temperament and of having a kind and truthful soul. While the church taught her the importance of obedience and taught her that deep inside, at her very core, she was impure.

One year ago, this girl's father pulled her aside after classes. His eyes glazed over with held back tears as he kneeled down to tell her, "Yui, the world could be a beautiful place if you just give it the chance. But," he lifted his head to peer at the gray clouded sky, "The world can also destroy you. You're the only one who can decide your destiny," he warned

It was a similarly gloomy day as I sat in the backseat of a musty cab. The driver hadn't spoken one word to me and the radio was silent. Gray clouds cried down, their tears pattering against the cab's windows. Pit pat, pit pat and the squeaking of the windshield wipers were all that could be heard. I closed my eyes. "Do not cry," my father had cautioned through the open cab door. This was after we hugged farewell and before he straightened his back and lifted my suitcase into the cab's trunk. I pulled the door closed as he let the trunk's lid fall and latch shut. We both averted each other's eyes, knowing that if one of us caught sight of the other one's tears, there would be nothing in the world that could keep us from consoling one another. And with a quick wave from my father, the cab began moving.

Pit pat, pit pat. Squeak, squeak.

I drew a line through the condensation dripping down the window. Nothing felt real. One year had gone by too quickly. I would have downright forgotten if my father hadn't mentioned it a few weeks prior. My hand instinctively fiddled with the locket necklace placed around my neck. "It's time to see the world," he had said after my initial refusal. "An amazing opportunity," he promised. I rested my forehead against the cool glass as I remembered the pained expression on his face as he attempted to convince me.

"Miss, we've arrived." I jolted awake. I could feel a mark form where my skin had pressed against the window. Clouds still littered the sky, but the rain had subsided. "Miss," the driver repeated. He turned his head just slightly back to me.

"Thank you, sir," I responded as I flattened the creases that had formed in my dress. "How long was I asleep?" I asked. The man silently turned back to face front and moved to step out of the cab to retrieve my luggage. "O- oh," I mumbled as I opened my own door and slid out of my seat. As soon as I heard the door click shut, the cab lurched forward and drove off, leaving my things in the dirt road. I gave a small wave to the cab now speeding down the winding road we had arrived on. Looking behind me, I gasped as I noticed what I could only describe as the castle. Directly in front of me sat a steel black gate that opened up to an expansive courtyard filled with healthy red rose bushes. A magnificent stone fountain sat unmoving in the middle of the courtyard. My body began shivering in the chilling shade of this castle. I made my way to the two massive, arched dark wooden doors in front. My knuckle struck the wood timidly and, of course, did not incite an answer. After checking behind me for onlookers, I kicked the door with my foot, eliciting a much louder knock. Still, however, no answer. "Excuse me?" I shouted, hoping not to raise my voice too loudly. "Is anyone home?" I asked. My only response was the clouds, deciding to cry again above me. I placed my hand carefully onto the doorknob, but swiftly pulled it away. "Breaking and entering is not very ladylike," I lectured to myself.

CRACK!

"Aaah!" I yelped, jumping from the sudden thunder. I quickly turned the knob and after opening the door, not expecting it to truly be unlocked, I fell into the home and onto the tiled floor. The door slammed shut behind me. I flinched and briskly stood back up. I had stepped into a large, dark room with two long, winding staircases on either side that lead to a shadowed balcony. Above me, the ceiling seemed to reach the heavens. Its walls were adorned with beautiful, glistening glass work. "Uh- um, excuse me?" I called out as I cautiously made my way under the stairs and through a dimly lit hallway full of closed doors. As I reached one that sat ajar, I peered through the crack. It was a small room with just some stiff sofas and a large table sitting in the middle. A few paintings hung on the wall, mostly all crooked. "Excuse me?" I repeated, now in a hushed tone. I gently pushed the door open wider and as the hallway light slipped into the room, it revealed a man laid across one of the sofas. "Oh!" I gasped. He did not move. "Sir?" I breathed, moving closer to approach him. His one arm draped over the side of the sofa. His fingers brushed against the tile. His eyes remained closed as I leaned in. His face was astonishingly pale, which contrasted with his deep red hair. "Please, sir..." I fell to my knees in exhaustion. "I just don't understand..." I whimpered. "Why was I brought here?" I raised my hands to my eyes.

"Tch," the man's fallen arm grabbed my own, "You're too damn noisy," and he pulled me onto his chest.

"E- eeeh?" I flailed in his arms as he tightened his grip around me and furrowed his brow.

"Hey, shut it!" he hissed. "You some kind of idiot?" My face twinged in anger as I shook my head in response. "Only an idiot would break into this place," he guffawed.

"I didn't!" I shouted. "It- It was unlocked and, uh, there was thunder..." I trailed off, realizing the man could hardly hear me over his laughter. I could feel a blood vessel burst. My face reddened as I raised my arm behind me and yelled, "You're being very," SLAP! "rude!" For just a second, we stared at each other. His red eyes were wide with surprise as my hand mark sizzled on his cheek. I rolled myself off of him and landed on my butt onto the floor.

"Oi, where d'ya think you're goin'?" He lifted me up yet again, this time trapping me under him. He pinned my wrists easily with one hand.

"Let go, let go!" I commanded as I threw my head up, at least trying to head butt him.

He dodged my attempts swiftly and chuckled. "What the hell, idiot. Just, ugh," he grunted as I kicked his leg with mine. "Just stay still," he whined, moving his leg on top of me. The playful smirk on his face told me that this was just a game to him. "You smell sweet," his free hand grasped my chin, lifting it to reveal my neck. "Real sweet," he muttered, his face becoming puzzled as he leaned down. I shook as I felt his tongue slide against my skin. "Wow," he gasped. He lifted his head to look at me. "Well, now I've really gotta make you mine!"

"Ayato." The red headed man turned to stone at the sound. "That is quite enough." I turned my head away from who I now assumed to be Ayato, whose eyes still had not left my neck, and I saw to our side, a neatly dressed slim man who addressed him in a calm, but clearly disappointed tone.

"Yeah, yeah," Ayato groaned as he decidedly lifted himself off of me. I immediately rushed to the other man's side. "I was just punishin' a criminal, Reiji. Isn't that right, idiot?" Ayato childishly stuck his tongue out at me.

"Honestly, Ayato," The man to my side, Reiji, sighed, raising his hand to his temple.

Ayato grinned, "I think she likes it! You shoulda seen 'er." He held his stomach while laughing.

"Madam, for what reason have you broken into our home?" Reiji accused after scoffing at Ayato.

"I did not like it!" I shouted at Ayato and then turned to Reiji, "And I did not break in. I came from the church!"

"Do not yell. It is indecent for a young lady." Reiji looked down at me. His hands pushed up his glasses and brushed away a lock of his stormy colored hair.

"I'm very sorry," I bowed my head. "I just, um," I sniffled, attempting to keep the tears at bay.

"You mentioned a church just now," Reiji recalled. "Are you referring to the Holy Night church? That's quite a ways away."

"Yes!" I nodded enthusiastically. "My father is Mr. Komori, a pastor. My name is Yui! I arrived just now by-"

"Well," Reiji interrupted coldly, "this is no place to talk of such matters. We'll all gather in the drawing room." Without a moment of hesitation, he turned and walked out of the sitting room. I began to follow, but my wrist was suddenly caught.

"Yo, idiot," Ayato held up my hand by my wrist. "Don't go thinkin' it's always gonna play out like that." He placed his lips on my fingers and gave a quick kiss before yanking it, pulling me violently into his arms. "I'm almighty 'round here. Next time, Reiji won't be here to save 'ya." His words gave me an uneasy chill. I jerked my body away from his and hurried back to follow Reiji, not bothering to glance back.

We sat in a spacious, bright room. If I hadn't caught up with Reiji, I would have still been wandering lost in the many hallways of this 'home.' I purposely sat on the couch furthest from Ayato as I could. With my head lowered to my feet, I stealthily looked over to him. Ayato sat stretched out sideways in a large chair. He rested one leg over the armrest, the other was bent at the knee in front of him. "This sucks," he groaned.

"We cannot start until Laito arrives," Reiji stood in front of us, his arms loosely crossed at his chest. His eyes fell onto a man who slept behind me on a couch who had already been there when we walked in. "And for someone to awaken," Reiji hissed under his breath. The man laid unstirred. I glanced back at him, noticing right away the blonde-orange hue of his hair and then quickly after, that his ears were plugged with a pair of cordless earbuds.

"Ohhhhh," a voice crooned from the hallway. "So this explains the sudden pleasant atmosphere." A tall man stood at the threshold of the door. "What a cute little kitten!" The man squealed as he hurriedly made his way to me, passing by Reiji who cleared his throat.

"So then," Reiji began.

"What's a lil kitty like yourself," The man, Laito, continued as he now stood in front of me, "doing in a big bad place like this?" Laito had long, straight bright red hair and a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

"It's got nothin' to do with ya'," Ayato sneered.

Laito sighed, "Now, now, Ayato." He leaned down to my face and brushed a knuckle across my cheek. "Don't be so stingy. You don't want to scare her away, do you?"

"I- I'm not-" I began.

Leaning in further, Laito gave me a peck on the cheek. My hand went up to my face as it flushed red. "We have to treat our guests kindly." He grinned, approving my reaction and taking a seat next to me.

"Ughh. This's bullshit!" Ayato sat up, "She belongs to Yours Truly. I already claimed 'er!"

"Says who?" I shouted, standing to my feet as well.

"Volume," Reiji warned, patiently waiting for everyone to settle. Ayato slumped back into his chair.

"Really, Ayato. You need to learn how to share," Laito sighed. As I quickly sat back down as well, he placed his hand onto my thigh. "Though I am surprised to see this kitten's claws." He brushed my thigh lightly with his nails.

"If you are all quite done," Reiji sneered. "It is adamant that we get to the bottom of this matter. He looked at Laito, "To answer your question, the Holy Night church sent her," Reiji flicked his hand in my direction, "Supposedly." My hand twitched at his apathetic words. "Have either of you been told anything by," he paused for a breath, "him?"

"Beats me," Ayato shrugged.

"As if I talk to that man. Honestly," Laito snickered.

"And? Shu?" Reiji addressed the man behind us with malice in his voice.

I looked back again to Shu as I heard his arm softly drop down from his hip to the couch. His eyes squinted open. "Yeah," he gave a yawn, then a pause. "Ahhh, right. Girl," his arm lifted slowly, "He did say something. 'Bout some girl." Shu gestured in my direction. "But it was boring." He let his arm descend onto his face, blocking the light, and murmured against it, "And it happened centuries ago."

"A year ago," I piped in excitedly. "That's when I was told by my father." Shu and my eyes met for just a second and I thought maybe, I saw him chuckle.

"So this is that man's doing," Reiji mused.

I whipped my head back to face him. "Right! And so I am not a criminal," I added, glancing at Ayato, who grimaced at me in response.

"No, kitten, but you are likely a sacrifice." Laito grabbed both of my hands in his. "Poor poor lil' kitty," he cooed, "Thrown away to be devoured by some bad, bad men." He placed a kiss on my knuckles.

"Tch," Ayato stood back up from his chair, yelling, "Back off, Laito! I said it, didn't I?" He took just a few strides to reach us before continuing, "She's mine!" He grabbed my arm, yanking me off of the couch.

"No, let go!" I demanded, wapping my fist against his chest.

"He did say somethin' or other," Shu mumbled, "'bout not killing her."

"Such preposterous manners, all of you," Reiji critiqued, looking away from the chaos.

"Yours Truly'll be the only one to take 'er blood," Ayato claimed cheerfully, wrapping me into his arms.

Blood?

"Ayato, don't be so childish. We all want a bite out of our new lil' kitten. You're being much too rough," Laito stood from his seat.

Bite?

"I'll train 'er to like it," Ayato laughed, holding me tight against him with one hand and brushing my hair from my neck with the other. "Ain't that right? I can already tell that the pain'll turn you on."

"I- I don't under-" I began. And then I saw. Ayato opened his mouth widely. His tongue licked his lips. And there were fangs. I gasped.

Fangs?

"Hmmm, be a good kitten and stand still juuuust like that," Laito's hand flitted over the small of my back. "Ayato always makes it hurt. Isn't he too cruel?"

Everything went black.