Tell me your guys thoughts on this.
Night Two
Beneath the celestial canvas of a star-studded sky, Cross Academy assumed a different visage as darkness enveloped its peaceful facade. The moon, casting its ethereal glow, painted the campus in an otherworldly light. Zero Kiryu, ever the vigilant hunter, navigated the dimly lit pathways with purpose, leaving Yuki behind earlier due to the impending danger that lingered in the shadows.
As he approached the fringe of the surrounding forest, a disquieting sensation tingled in his veins. Zero's hand instinctively found its way to Bloody Rose, his trusty weapon, as he anticipated the presence of a lurking Level-E. His finger pulled the trigger, and the sharp gunshot echoed through the night, scattering a nearby murder of crows into the air with frenzied cawing. But when he aimed his weapon toward the red eyes that had pierced the darkness, they had vanished, like smoke dissipating into thin air.
Zero's senses remained on edge, a persistent feeling gnawing at him. He ventured deeper into the shadowy forest, heedless of the darkness that loomed overhead. It was then that he heard it—a mischievous giggle, bell-like and hauntingly familiar. His heart quickened, dread pooling in the pit of his stomach.
"It's been so long," the melodious voice remarked, teasingly. "You've become rather vulgar, haven't you?" The voice's playful tone sent shivers down Zero's spine.
Unable to resist the curiosity gnawing at him, Zero spun around, raising Bloody Rose defensively. "Tch, come out, you damn leech!" he growled, his voice laced with frustration and suspicion. Another peal of eerie laughter echoed through the forest.
Zero's senses screamed at him, and he knew he was not alone. The atmosphere grew thick with tension as he held his ground, waiting for his unseen adversary to reveal themselves. Suddenly, his breath hitched as he felt the sensation of slender arms encircling his neck, and his hunter instincts were validated as shadows took form, manifesting into a girl—a girl he knew all too well.
Having disappeared on a winter night when Hunters came to take her away, Zero remembered that he and Ichiru had tried to stop them, but their parents held them back. That cold winter night, as that little girl walked away into the blizzard, looking back while holding the rabbit Zero had given her.
"You can't be," Zero said, his voice heavy with emotion, his mind struggling to comprehend the impossible. The girl giggled, stepping back so that Zero could see her fully. Her silver hair glittered under the faint moonlight that trickled through the branches of the forest, and her eyes glowed a predatory yet soft crimson. Even though she was shorter than Zero, there was a familial resemblance between them—siblings, not twins, but unmistakably family.
"Rei..." Zero gasped, disbelief warring with the undeniable evidence before him.
"It's been too long, big brother. I see the rumors I had heard were true." Her eyes softened as they went to the tattoo on his neck, confirming that he was indeed a vampire. A human turned one, but still a vampire like her. She gently reached out, but Zero pulled away quickly, hand covering his face to try and hide his crumbling mask. "Tell me, big brother, have you drunk any blood? From Kuran or that girl I've heard rumors about?" His sister asked. It took a second, before the question came to his shattering mind. Rei gave a sniff, and it confirmed her suspicion. "So you did drink his blood," she said, nodding slowly to herself. The next second, she bit her wrist, and blood was drawn. It was a tantalizingly sweet smell. Zero felt it, the hunger he had around Yuki. He stepped back, once, twice, and then his back was against a tree. Rei stepped forward, footsteps soft.
"Stay back!" He shouted desperately. It was as if a ghost was in front of him. She didn't respond. Closer, closer, and closer. It wasn't until she was in front of him that she stopped. She raised her wrist, the blood dripping to the ground.
"It must be painful, big brother. My blood can stop the Level E transformation; all it will do is bind you to me. Isn't that a better option than Hio?" Rei questioned, her voice soft as she spoke to her older brother. Zero tried to move away, but he couldn't. The smell of her blood, of his sister's blood, drew him closer. His throat was dry, and the tattoo was active on his wrist. Just as his willpower was about to break, the staff of Artemis came flying down.
Rei quickly spun around, raising her arm. The staff connected and left a burning mark on her wrist. She hissed, falling a few feet away. "Are you alright, Zero?!" Yuki asked, her staff trained on the vampire. But Zero's mind was in turmoil. "Zero?" Yuki didn't take her eyes
off the vampire that was in front of her.
"You damnable girl!" Rei hissed, the shadows gathered at her back, becoming like wings of the fictional vampires. Then she blinked, staring at the girl who had interrupted her and her beloved brother. There was something intoxicating about her, an underlying scent that drew her. She could guess now, with the scent of Zero and Kuran on her, that this was the girl that had captured their hearts. And she could see how. She might be a dull girl, but there was something about her that drew Rei to her. But that emotion was clashing with the possessive dark hatred, that somebody would take her older brother, her family away from her. It was that hatred that won out. Although she had told Kaname she would leave the girl alone, punishment must be administered for one who doesn't know her place. In the blink of an eye, Rei appeared in front of Yuki, her hand thrusting out, shadows gathered like claws. Yuki barely managed to raise Artemis to block.
The clang that sounded sent Yuki skidding back. Her arms trembled from the attack. Yet Rei would have this girl punished. But just as she was about to lunge again, a gunshot echoed through the air. The bullet whizzed past, taking a few strands of hair. Zero, even struggling against his hunger, had Bloody Rose aimed at her. The shadows and the wings vanished, and she was struck by grief. "Why, brother?" She questioned, her voice slightly quivering. All she wanted to do was punish the girl for interrupting.
"Stop!" Zero shouted. "Stop saying brother!" The turmoil in his voice was clear. "You're not my sister! You're a damn monster!" Those words, like knives, pierced Rei. She really did love her brother, though it was in a twisted way. Even then, she had been careful to keep the fact of how twisted she was down. But Zero didn't… the tears came before she could stop them. Perhaps she was too eager. Even in her mind, Rei knew that they were different from when they were children. She still couldn't find Ichiru, but Zero she did find. She thought, perhaps in a naive childish manner, that Zero would allow her to stay attached to his side. She couldn't be here near him, near the brother who she loved but who saw her as a monster. She became a flock of shadow bats, flying off into the night, destination unknown.
Zero lowered Bloody Rose, his breath ragged. He ignored Yuki's questions. Rei was back, the little sister that he had read stories to. The one who had clung to both him and Ichiru. Suddenly, it dawned on him that perhaps this was the curse of the Kiryu family. Maybe his family was destined to be broken like this. He walked back toward the academy, knowing he would have to inform Headmaster Cross. But what could he tell him? That the sister he thought was gone forever had returned as a vampire? Ichiru might know what to do; he had always understood Rei better than Zero.
His sister had always been different, always set apart from regular humans. Back then, in his childish mind, he didn't care. He loved his little sister as much as he did Ichiru. But those memories had become tainted. He couldn't convince himself that the girl was just a trick by a sadistic vampire. That had been his sister; he knew it. With an inner conflict raging, Zero made his way to the Headmaster's office to deliver the news.
In the Moon Dormitory, in Seiren's room
Seiren was getting ready for bed, the night's events weighing heavily on her mind. Her mistress was free, and Seiren knew that it was the blood bond between them that was causing Rei to act this way. Despite it all, she genuinely cared for her. She remembered the time when she had first met Rei, trapped and wounded from experimentation. For a year after she had licked her blood, Seiren had faithfully come to serve her, even if it meant sneaking blood to her when they tried to starve her. But those memories were best left in the past. That innocent girl was gone, replaced by a childish mockery of her mistress.
Just as Seiren was about to turn in, the window flew open, and Rei materialized in a flock of bats. Tears stained her pale cheeks, and Seiren felt her heart clench. Rei collapsed, now resembling a little girl as she cried into Seiren's neck. Seiren said nothing, holding her mistress gently in her arms, understanding the pain that tormented her. She brought Rei to her bed, and then covered both of them with the blanket. She stroked Rei's head, soothing the girl who had her heart broken. And that's how they both drifted off, to sleep away the daylight.
Night Two End