It certainly has been a while since I last posted. I've been busy with life and mostly school. Took me some time to see how I wanted this story to progress, but I have a better idea of it now. Hope you all enjoy, and for those who have waited for some time just know that I haven't given up on this story. :)
Chapter 6
Valentina's mood had brightened immensely after Yui had come and visited her. However, she couldn't shake this gnawing feeling that was growing in the back of her mind. She worried if her friend would be alright on her own. She didn't want to imagine the horrors that Ayato could be putting Yui through if he found out she had left. Unlike her, Yui has no one to help her; when she's at the mansion, she has to survive on her own. She doubted that Kanato would be the type to defend Yui against his brother; he always seemed irritated whenever he saw her. She just hoped that her friend would manage to return unscathed.
After their conversation, Valentina wanted to act fast and figure out how to protect herself. She was thankful that Yui had warned her about the brothers. In terms of strength, there was no way she could fight any of them head-on. They could easily snap her neck if they wanted to. What she had to do was find a way to outsmart them. She didn't have to worry about Shuu, and just from observing Ayato, he wasn't as sharp as he made himself believe. She had never met nor seen Subaru, so she could assume that he didn't care about her existence in the slightest.
However, Reiji was a mystery to her; she shivered from recalling his intense gaze when she first met him. That man held a perfect facade that hid his truest intentions. His soul was so dark that if his mask were to slip from his face, he'd be the cruelest. She wouldn't dare think otherwise; men like Reiji should be treated cautiously and at a distance.
Now, Laito didn't fall far behind. Unlike Reiji, who naturally held a stoic but stern manner, the redhead had a flirtatious and cunning attitude. Laito could secretly deceive others with his carefree attitude when he was the wolf dressed in sheep's clothing. She wondered how many girls had fallen under his spell and had been deceived by his lies.
Valentina sighed as she stood from the couch, and then there was Kanato. She had wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Children were never born evil; as her godmother once told her, those around them corrupted their innocence. But he made it hard. Whatever had happened to him didn't justify his behavior towards her. He had no right to come and threaten her in her own home. It was true that she was sympathetic towards him at first, but the way he had manhandled her was unforgivable. If Kanato thought she would break, he had another thing coming.
Valentina had finished getting herself ready. She had decided that if she would get any answers, going to the library to see what books or articles she could find would be a start. She made sure to dress warmly, how she loathed the cold. She had fixed her hair in two long braids and wore a knitted beanie to keep her head warm. She pulled a pair of laced wedge boots from the cardboard box and a warm winter coat. She quickly dressed, wrote a quick note to her father, and posted it on the refrigerator. Alberto didn't use a cell phone, and she knew he would return home earlier than her godmother and Nana, who had gone shopping for groceries. She didn't want him to worry about where she had left, too, so Valentina made sure to say in the note that she was going to the library.
She was hoping that she could find books about creatures like them. There had to be something written about vampires, even if the stories written about them were passed down as some urban myth. Who knew, but maybe there was a way to defeat them. She could always experiment by eating garlic or dabbing on some holy water as if it were perfume.
Valentina stepped outside as the chill winds slapped her face. The public library was about a thirty-minute walk so she had to bare herself against the cold for a bit. She admired the restaurants and the clothing boutiques that she passed by—imagining herself coming with Yui so they could have a girl's day together. It would be fun, but it was a stretch, considering the situation they were both in. She wished they could hang out and do normal things at their age.
Valentina was keeping a close eye on some stores that could be hiring. She knew that she would have to find a job quickly to help her parents with any bills for the house. Even though they had bought their apartment, they still needed to pay the maintenance and utility fees. There were also monthly groceries and a phone bill. She was thankful that her private high school had already been paid for, but she needed to save up what she could. She would be off to college in one year and needed money for tuition. She was very serious when it came to her studies, and she definitely wanted to continue her education.
Valentina noticed a help-wanted sign hanging from a small bakery's window as she walked into the small shop. The smell of freshly made bread and pastries wafted in the air. And she found herself craving the freshly rolled cinnamon buns that were on display. A friendly woman greeted her, and Valentina couldn't help but ask if they were still looking to hire.
"We are, actually," the owner," Patty told her. "You see, I'm about seven months along and need someone to help me around the shop. My husband Omar is the baker, and I can't help him as much as I used to."
Omar came from the kitchen and introduced himself, wiping his hands clean of the dough as he shook Valentina's hand. He was a middle-aged, burly man with an unshaven beard. Even though his height was intimidating, he seemed like a kind man. Valentina could tell he cared about his wife immensely as Omar rubbed his wife's bulging stomach in joy.
"What does your availability look like? I would need you to come at least three days out of the week. Either early in the day or late at night."
Valentina told her she could work early in the morning since her night classes ended at four o'clock in the morning.
Patty nodded thoughtfully and told her that would be fine since she could come in at five to help bake the bread. If she ever needed to change her shifts, she could come in before her night classes to help prepare the large batches of dough for the next day. The choice was hers. Valentina thanked her, grateful that she finally had found a job. Patty wrote her contact number down so Valentina could think about what days she wanted to come in as Omar wrapped two cinnamon buns for her to take home.
Valentina smiled, thanking them as she bid them goodbye. She was ecstatic, her boss seemed like a nice woman. She called Nana, who was accompanying her godmother at the store, and told them the good news. They congratulated her and told her that if she could handle the school work with her job, there wouldn't be a problem. Valentina said it surely wouldn't and told them she was headed to the library to "study." As she jokingly told them, just in case, they got worried about where she had gone too. She texted Patty to let her know the days she was coming in so she could start working as soon as possible.
Valentina had walked for what had felt like an eternity as she finally arrived at the town library. She opened the tall, dark mahogany doors as the warmth of the building engulfed her. It was her first time here, and she was amazed at the antique architecture. The old building was built in the early 1900s and they managed to preserve the look. A chandelier was hanging from the main entrance as an old librarian smiled at her from the front desk. Valentina gave her a friendly wave as she went to explore. The building had two floors, with the main floor being the kid and adolescent section. She went upstairs to the second floor where there were a lot of dark cherry wooden tables and chairs where people were either doing work or studying in silence.
A beautiful stained-glass lamp was placed on every table for personal use. She passed the center and walked down the aisle of bookshelves. There were many books with fine binding, some that looked like they hadn't been touched in years. Many books have been separated by subject, topics, or the year of publication. She came to an end, where she noticed a small opening between two bookshelves where a small whirlwind staircase led to an upper floor. Out of curiosity she climbed up and made her way to the third floor where it was empty of people. There were no lights; the only thing illuminating the aisle of books were small candles that burned brightly. The bookshelves were dusty, and some were covered in cobwebs. She raised an eyebrow at the poor conditions the third floor was in. It wasn't given any maintenance, as if people had simply forgotten about it.
She walked past the aisles, and her eye caught a very fine print with the word mythology. She had found a small section of mythological books. She pulled one out that read Creatures that Live and Myths that Roam. It was covered in a thick layer of dust. It was some time before anyone picked it up, much less read it. The book was in poor condition, just like every other book on this floor. The fine binding it once had was worn out, and the pages had yellowed. She blew on the cover as she brushed the layer of dust off. She had been intrigued by the title, hoping that the book could help her find some answers. She was surprised to find that there was no author. It simply had the title, and she couldn't find a single page that contained information about the book's publication or what company had distributed it. She had found it odd, but she tucked the book under her arm and returned to the second floor. She sat alone in a secluded corner as she turned on the small lamp. The pages had been dried out, and she needed the light to help her read the text.
12 March 1905- Prologue
No one can be more keenly aware of the sketchy nature of what will unfold. The literature on this subject may be ridiculed by many, but they have been blinded by the coming of the Modern Age of Man. Over the generations, we have forgotten what lurks in the shadows after scientific discoveries gifted us the power to illuminate our homes and live in the light.
No longer do we live in fear or disparity.
Nor do we respect our ancestors who roamed the earth before us.
Or pray to the spirits that have protected us for so many years.
We have grown arrogant as a human race. We have forgotten where we have come from. And for that simple mistake, we have rendered our future offspring to their doom. We have shown advancement as a human race but belittled what could not be proven scientifically. If there's no proof, there is no explanation for any phenomena that could exist. Magical creatures or supernatural beings, they weren't real, they said. Everything could be explained in a logical manner. They are wrong for confining themselves, for secluding and keeping out what they didn't understand. There are beings that roam this world that simply cannot be explained. They've merely existed for many centuries, eons even. This descriptive study has been split to provide information on the regional divisions of every possible phenomenon I've come across or heard of as if it's been passed down as some old wives' tale. In due time, this book will come to save many so that the human race is no longer blinded by the reality of those who walk among us.
Valentina squinted her eyes at the author's penmanship. She wondered what kind of person they were to have been to be able to study this. Or if they were even alive. She doubted, considering the book had been written more than a century ago, but she wondered if they had any living relatives.
She began to flip through the page, and she bit her bottom lip in confusion, quickly flipping through the pages. All of them were blank except for the first page she had read. She ran her fingers through her hair. Why on earth were the pages blank? She knew this book was abnormal, considering the nature of the topic and not a single book company ever distributing it, but why publish much less donate a book with blank pages? She thought it would be more like a journal that detailed the author's experience with the many creatures it had encountered. Skimming through the pages, she realized that wouldn't be the case. She re-read the passage on the first page, wondering if she had missed a vital clue, but she couldn't think of any. This had to be some sick joke. It was certainly infuriating that she had thought she had found a book that would help her, only to realize it was empty of any information. She was about to close the book in defeat when she sliced her finger on one of the thick pages. She flinched, cursing under her breath as a drop of blood accidentally landed on a page. She quickly slipped her finger in her mouth to prevent it from bleeding. To her amazement, an intricate drawing of a man was revealed.
"What the?" Valentina muttered, her brows furrowed in confusion as a beautiful man with long hair was pictured on the page. The only words that read at the bottom were Karlheinz.
Her eyes widened in astonishment; the book held some form of magic. Her blood, or anyone's for that matter, could help her read the book. It was as if the book were written in some form of invisible ink. She closed the book and shuddered at the thought. She suddenly realized how much time had passed by and looked around to see that she was the only one still there. She quickly got her things and took the book with her.
She was going to check it out. If she needed one drop of blood per page, it was a small price she was willing to pay to learn more about the supernatural. She flipped the book in her hand. It was a thick book. There had to be about 300 or so pages; it would definitely take a while for her to read through it.
She went to the front desk, handing the book to the elderly woman from before. Valentina didn't get a good look at her until now, and was stunned by the woman's appearance. Her eyes didn't have iris' or pupils. The only thing she had was the white of her sclera. The elderly woman smiled at her, showing off her canine teeth as she touched the book's cover, feeling the old text in her hand.
"Well, well, well," her voice croaked as if she hadn't spoken in years. "It's been a while since this book has revealed itself."
Valentina was at a loss for words as the elderly woman wrapped it up in an old newspaper. The lights began to flicker in the library, and Valentina began to feel nervous when she realized she was the only one left in the building.
"I found it on the third floor of the library," Valentina said, trying to make small talk. "It was just sitting on the shelf."
The woman chuckled, causing her to flinch at the older woman's reaction. "Dearie, there is no third floor."
Valentina took a step back at the woman's words, not believing her, and quickly ran back to the small opening that she had walked into that had led her to the third floor. Her eyes went wide and she staggered a bit, leaning on a chair for support when she realized it had disappeared. She walked over and touched the brick wall that was covering the entrance that she had just walked into moments ago.
"That isn't possible," Valentina whispered, banging on the wall. "I'm not going crazy!" The staircase that connected the two floors had disappeared.
"To any normal person, you would be." The elderly woman appeared as Valentina whipped her head around in surprise. "But you're not."
Valentina narrowed her eyes in suspicion at the woman who had appeared before her. She had the characteristics of a blind person but had suddenly turned up before her in the blink of an eye. She wasn't human and felt a chill run through her body.
"'He' had created this library for the general public, for those that were human and those that weren't. Of course, not just anyone is allowed up there. This building 'He' created has a life, you know, flowing through its wall, and only those with magic are allowed in certain rooms. This building carries a life force of its own. It won't always reveal its secret rooms unless it wants to."
A chair had suddenly slid across the room and with a pulling force, caused Valentina to sit as she yelped in surprise. She gripped the chair side so she wouldn't fall, not expecting the piece of furniture to move on its own as it seated her across a small wooden table where the elderly woman had taken a seat.
"Who is this man you speak of?" Valentina questioned, placing both hands on the table as her voice refused to succumb to fear.
The woman had simply smiled, her teeth mirroring a shark's, as her beady white eyes glowed in the candlelight. "Well, the man who had built this town, country even behind the shadows. He goes by many names and has witnessed every event in history. He's an unspoken ruler who is revered and feared by many."
Valentina scrunched her eyebrows in confusion as the woman twirled a strand of her long, dark hair. "You may meet 'Him' sooner than you think, Dearie. For 'He' keeps a very close eye on his offsprings. Your arrival had not been foreseen, but you've quickly become a wildcard in his deck. Maybe you'll survive where others have failed."
Valentina had a sinking feeling, "Who are y—"
She had been quickly cut off by the woman's scaly hands, which began to touch her face. "You seem to be a mix," the woman hissed, slowly feeling Valentina's cheeks, eyes, and lips. Valentina froze as she felt the woman's unusual cold touch on her, feeling the woman's long nails brush against her skin.
"An unusual mix of human and laurel, it seems."
"Laurel?" Valentina repeated, confused at what the woman was implying.
"Your existence has been kept a secret, it seems. For laurels are little people, fairies you could say that live in the woods." The woman informed her, letting go of the child's warm face and handing her the wrapped book. "You have a pure heart from the fairy blood that runs in your veins. I wonder if you'll stay pure-hearted or if they'll corrupt you." The woman said in a solemn voice. "Only time will tell. Hopefully, this book will help you find what you are looking for."
Valentina took it hesitantly as she stood up, no longer feeling bound to the chair. She was surprised when the woman had disappeared leaving her alone in the empty library. She held the book tightly and, without a moment's notice, quickly left. The cold once again chills her bones. She was a bit shaken; she wasn't sure if that woman had been a spirit, but whoever she was hadn't harmed her. Whatever agenda that spirit had, it warned her. She wondered who this "man" the spirit had been talking about. If what the woman had said was true, then the place had eyes, and someone was observing her every move. It could have been a subliminal threat, basically telling her that wherever she went, 'He' would find her. However, Valentina found the idea ludicrous; she didn't know to whom the spirit was talking about in the slightest.
She placed a hand to her head in exasperation. This was something far greater than she ever imagined. What had shocked her more than anything was what the spirit had revealed about her. How is it that this woman was able to tell her she wasn't human but a mix of two beings? Her family had never once mentioned anything about it. She bit her bottom lip nervously, wondering why her parents had kept such a secret. She had grown up feeling isolated from everyone else and now knew why her family members kept themselves away from her as if she were the plague. She could feel warm tears pricking from the corner of her eyes as they slid down her face. She had so many questions that needed answers. She had spent her whole life living a lie. She couldn't blame her parents; they probably had their reasons, but they should have told her. She wrapped her arms around herself, yearning for a hug from her birth mother. She wished that she were here so she could ask her questions about her father.
Valentina wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and took out the keys to her apartment, unaware that someone had been following closely behind her. She went to the basement of her apartment to collect the laundry she had washed before Yui had visited her. She placed the wrapped book at the bottom of the basket and put the clean load inside with the two cinnamon rolls on top. She carried the basket as she went up the stairs, trying to see where she was going. Even if all she wanted to do was lie down and just think of everything that had happened, she couldn't afford to mope all day. She had things to get done.
She unboxed her father's old record player and placed it on the table as she went to find the vinyl stored in one of the boxes. If she was going to do any work, she needed some music. Music was food for the soul; she needed something upbeat to cheer her up. If she was going to get any work done, it was a must.
She pulled the rack that contained all the vinyl. There was a large selection, anything that stretched from classical to hard rock. Valentina pulled out a jazz album from one of her favorite musicians. She placed the old vinyl on the record player as the sound of the trumpets, saxophone, and piano filled her soul. She pulled out the book that had been carefully wrapped and pondered where to hide it. She looked around and decided to hide it in the living room behind the radiator. If Kanato ever snooped, he would most likely search her room. So, this was the least conspicuous place to look for anything. She danced around the living room for a bit before getting back to ironing her school uniform. She went to hang it up in her room and continued to fold the rest of the laundry as she took a bite of the pastry that her boss had given her.
She snapped her fingers in rhythm and gave a twirl as the saxophone blare filled the room. She was unaware of Kanato's presence as he snuck from behind her, inhaling her sweet scent, startling her. A few items of clothing had fallen to the ground as she jumped back in surprise.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!" She huffed, picking them up and refolding them. She tried to keep her composure, annoyed that he had appeared once again uninvited in her home.
Kanato frowned, grabbing her hand and giving her a twirl as he pulled her close to him. "I should be the one who's upset. I told you not to leave after I dropped off the stupid Bride." Kanato had noticed her eyes were red. "What happened? Who made you cry?" His voice held a sound of possessiveness. He wanted all of her, and he wasn't willing to share even her tears with anyone.
"Nothing happened," Valentina quickly responded, pulling back as she focused on her task. "I just miss my home." She grabbed a cinnamon roll and took a bite from it. Kanato took the pastry from her mouth as he finished it, much to her displeasure.
"Where did you go?" He asked nonchalantly as he wiped the sugar from the edge of his mouth with his thumb.
"I just went out for a stroll," she replied vaguely. Wishing he had something else to do then just stand and watch her. He was starting to make her feel uncomfortable, not liking the vibe he was giving her. She placed the folded clothes inside the basket as she continued to finish her chore in silence.
"You know what I detest more than anything?" Kanato said in a subliminal manner as he stroked the side of her cheek, causing her to tense up.
Valentina shrugged, trying to mask her nervousness. He grabbed her chin as he forced her gaze on him. "I hate liars. Let it be a little white lie or a dark, ugly one."
"I didn't lie!" Valentina exclaimed, slapping his hands away. A look of worry was slowly creeping on her face, maybe he knew of the book she had kept hidden.
Kanato's demeanor had turned dark; she could feel the hostility in the air. He angrily pushed the basket to the side, as it fell to the floor. She was shocked at such a childish act; she had just folded those!
"What are you, my father? You have no right to interrogate me!" Valentina exclaimed, irritated that he had given her more work to do, as she stepped over some shirts. She picked up the basket and started to place the clothes back in there. As she got up, Kanato shoved her harshly, causing her to fall back and hit her head against the wall.
She felt the room spinning as a bump started to form on the back of her head. Kanato peered down on her in anger. Valentina knew she had pissed him off; she had never seen him so angry with her before. He placed his hands on her shoulders, keeping her in place.
"It seems like you've forgotten who you belong to. Need I remind you?" Kanato threatened, scraping his mouth against her neck. He felt her breath hitch. She quickly placed a hand on his face.
"Don't," she said in a shaking manner. She realized she had messed up big time, ticking him off like that. "I went to the library and ended up getting a job at a bakery."
"That much I knew," Kanato said, showing her the written note she left to her father as he crumpled it in his hand. "Why are you looking for a job? If it's money you need, I'll give it to you."
Valentina shook her head, "I need it to pay the bills around this place. My parents are too old, and I don't want them to work at their age."
Kanato got off of her, allowing her to slowly sit up as he took out his wallet and handed her a wad of a hundred dollar bills. Her eyes went wide at the money he was offering her.
"I don't need it," Valentina quickly told him, trying to give him back the large sum of money. "I found a job already." She didn't want him to give her anything. Or else she'd feel obligated to give him something in return for that amount. In all honesty, Valentina didn't want to feel indebted to him. Who knew what twisted things he would do to her? Her life and sanity were priceless.
"I want you to keep it. I'll give you as much as you need each month."
"Absolutely not!" Valentina clamored back, standing up and tossing the money on his lap. "I don't think you'd be that generous to give me money just like that." Knowing who he was, Valentina would rather not bargain with the devil himself.
He had lifted his head to look at her smugly; his toy was surely an interesting one. He would never get bored of her; it only made him want her more. He crouched to his feet as he quickly swiped his legs under hers, knocking her over. She landed on her face as she tried to get a grip on herself, but she felt disorientated. Valentina felt a tight feeling of dread as he crouched down to her eye level. He wasn't angry like he was before; he had a playful demeanor. His eyes reflected those of an animal playing with its prey. He grabbed her chin, giving her a toothy grin as his fangs peeked from his lips. He grabbed the back of her head with his other hand and pulled her into a deep kiss. She felt him nibbling on the bottom of her lip, and she freaked.
She kicked his chest with both feet, causing him to fall back a bit. A fight-and-flight response kicked in, and she quickly got to her feet, but her little heroic defiance didn't last long. Kanato had lunged towards her, grabbing her ankle and pulling her towards him, as she fell flat on her face again, bumping her nose. She felt something warm dripping down her lips as she tried to move. Her face was pinned to the ground as he sat on top of her, giving her almost zero mobility even to turn her head around. He pulled on her long dark hair, causing her to whine in discomfort as she arched her back, trying to ease the pain she felt on her scalp. He smiled cruelly as he watched her face contort in pain, with tears pricking from the corner of her eyes. He suddenly felt a stir in his stomach as he watched with interest her chest, moving with each ragged breath she took. He then grabbed her neck, letting her silky hair go as he felt the warmth of her skin and the curve of her neck being exposed to him. He kissed her neck gently as his hand squeezed one of her breasts. Kanato could feel her squirming, smelling the anxiety and fear off of her.
Valentina felt like she was suffocating, and with the last bit of sanity, she tried to elbow him in the face. Annoyed at her defiance, he squeezed her neck tightly. Causing her to crumple to the floor and scratch his hand desperately to loosen his grip. The blood that had been dripping from her nose had fallen onto his hand, and she could already taste the copper in her mouth. He began to brush her hair that covered the back of her neck and quickly bit down on the back of her nape like an apple. Valentina's screams were muffled by his hand, which smothered her cries for help.
Kanato was feeding from her, and he was enjoying every second of it as he felt her weaken under him. He had finally let go of her as her smooth, enriched blood had warmed him. No one could compare in taste; she now belonged solely to him. He turned her over in his arms and gently licked the blood off her face as he laid a gentle kiss on her lips. He felt her go limp in his arms as her face started to pale. Her breathing was low and heavy from the loss of blood he had taken from her. Kanato just held her like he would his Teddy bear and sat her carefully on his lap as her head slumped to the side. She had fainted, but that didn't stop Kanato from talking to her. He nuzzled her neck with affection as he inhaled her scent, reminding her it would take time for her to get used to it. He reassured her as she lay in his arms in an unresponsive state. He pushed her hair to the side and stared at her unconscious face, observing her steady breathing. She belonged to him, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
He picked her up bridal style and was going to take her to the bedroom when he heard the front door open. An elderly man had walked in dropping the bags he was carrying as he stared at them in horror. The man quickly picked up a hammer that was lying on top of a cardboard box and told him to let his daughter go.
Kanato smirked as he placed Valentina gently on the couch. He wiped the blood that had dripped on his chin and licked it off his finger.
"Get the hell out of this house!" Alberto commanded as he gripped the hammer in his hand. How dare this monster attack his daughter in his own home!
Kanato walked around with his hands behind his back, observing him. Kanato eyed him as if he were simple prey. The old man flinched when he took a step near him, but he didn't back down under the demon's intense gaze.
"That's no way to treat a guest," Kanato said in a scolding manner as he introduced himself. "You must be Valentina's adoptive father."
"You are not welcome here, demon. I prohibit you from ever contacting my daughter again!"
Kanato appeared before Alberto in the blink of an eye and picked up the elderly man by the throat. "Who are you to deny me!" Kanato hissed, narrowing his eyes in disgust. "I promised Valentina I wouldn't harm her family, but you need to know your place. You're just a lowly human!"
Alberto whacked the hammer as hard as he could against Kanato's skull, but it didn't faze him. The boy simply laughed at the old man's futile attempt and squeezed the man's throat even harder, crushing his windpipe. Alberto dropped the hammer and tried to get the demon to loosen his grip, to no avail.
"If you're going to kill me, do it!" Alberto sputtered between breaths. "I'm not afraid of death!"
"I won't kill you, old man," Kanato smirked, peering over at Valentina. "At least not yet."
He released his grip on the elderly man, and Alberto fell to his knees, coughing. He was hunched over, heaving, and didn't hear Kanato come up from behind. He had hit him on the lower back of his head, knocking Alberto out cold as he slumped onto the floor.
Kanato tsked in annoyance at having been disturbed and opened the window to let his familiars inside. He instructed them to carry Alberto back to the mansion; he would later decide what to do with him. He wouldn't let him remain here, fearing that Alberto would send Valentina away. He wouldn't let her family interfere between them, or it would give him a reason to whisk her away forever.
As his familiars disappeared with the body, Kanato picked up Valentina and led her to the room. He laid her on the bed as he went to lick the bite marks he left her. To his surprise the marks had already closed, only a small bruise remained. Kanato pondered; humans don't heal so easily, only confirming his suspicions.
He didn't think that Valentina had any idea of what she was. Her family, after all, raised her as a human. He wondered who her real parents were. He tucked her in, placing a small kiss on her lips. He was going to look around her home to see if he could find anything of use. He closed her bedroom door quietly and walked down the stairs.
There were more items in the house, although it looked like they hadn't finished unpacking. The rooms weren't completely bare like the last time he had visited. A few pictures of Valentina hung on the walls—one of her as a baby sitting between two women. Kanato could only guess that it was her godmother and her Nana. There were also photos of her separately with each parent, even some with that man he had knocked out. Valentina didn't look like any of them, but there weren't any other photos with her and other people until he came across a single small portrait perched on a small table next to a statue of the Virgin Mary.
Kanato picked up the frame as he looked at the older woman who smiled sweetly behind the frame. This was Valentina's mother. They looked almost identical except for their eye and hair color. The woman behind the photo had softer features, doe-brown eyes, and light brown hair. Valentina had a more defined look, her eyes were a piercing sea-green that contrasted against her dark hair. Though the shape of her mouth, nose, and eyes mirrored her mother's. He set the picture frame down and went inside another room.
He assumed her godmother, and Nana slept in two beds here. He could smell the incense that had finished burning, and Kanato curiously approached the circular table in the center of the room. It seems that someone was organizing different types of herbs. He could recognize the dried rose buds, lemongrass, and jasmine, but some herbs weren't native. His eyes wandered to the stack of cards, and picked them up. He raised an eyebrow as he went through the tarot cards. He could assume that her godmother was the supposed witch. Just from looking at the photos hung in the living room she looked like a cunning old lady. Just by the way, Alberto confronted him, someone like her was aware of the supernatural. They all knew about creatures like him. This could be a problem. If his brother, specifically Reiji or "Him," found out, they would kill them. Knowledge of their existence shouldn't be known by humans.
Kanato doubted they would be foolish enough to tell anyone, but he had to ensure they didn't talk. He noticed a white, bell-shaped flower, inhaling the sweet but dangerous plant. The lily of the valley flower had been freshly cut, but everything about it was poisonous, from the tip of its petals to the end of its roots.
He suddenly heard the front door open as he dropped the plant, realizing someone had entered the apartment. He could hear the chatter of two women talking amongst themselves and he realized that Valentina's mothers had arrived. He had quickly teleported himself back to the mansion, where he would wait for his familiars to drop off Alberto.
The two elderly women were carrying bags of groceries, unaware of what had happened. Nana was in high spirits and noticed that the laundry basket was still filled with clothes, waiting to get folded.
"That girl hasn't finished her chores," Nana said, shaking her head in disapproval. She continued to talk nonchalantly as she walked towards the kitchen. La Bruja was quiet; she sensed that something was off. She walked through the living room and noticed a hammer lying on the carpeted floor. She picked it up and placed it back on top of the box. Alberto should have already been home by now, she thought to herself.
While Nana was busy putting away the groceries, La Bruja decided to walk around their apartment home. Something wasn't sitting well with her. She went up the stairs into her room and felt that there had been an unworldly presence. There was an imbalance of energies in the room. She walked towards the table where she had been separating some herbs and found a few flowers on the ground. She picked up the lily of the valley, and her suspicions were confirmed. Someone had intruded into their home, but who?
La Bruja heard a wounded cry, and the elderly woman rushed to the source. She found herself in Valentina's room, where Nana was holding the child in her arms.
"The child is weak," Nana said, trying to contain her sobs. "I think she's ill, but she doesn't have a fever. She hasn't woken up no matter how much I call out to her."
La Bruja looked at the child's pale complexion; her light tan skin had dulled. Her lips were chapped, and her brow had broken into a cold sweat. There was dry blood around the child's nose. The old woman had checked her goddaughter's pulse and was alarmed at her low blood pressure. The elderly woman had excused herself and told Nana she'd be back with medication. She went back to her room and, cut a slice of ginseng root and began to grind it with a pestle and mortar stone. The root would help with fatigue and boost blood circulation.
After being satisfied with the consistency, she poured the ground bits of ginseng into a steaming cup of water. She grabbed ginger root and an old cloth and left towards the child's room. Nana held the girl in her arms as the old witch placed the tray on the vanity. She cut the slices of ginger and handed them to Nana, who grabbed the old cloth. She placed the slices of ginger on the fabric and wrapped them around the child's feet. La Bruja gently tilted the girl's head as she put the cup to Valentina's lips and poured the drink into her mouth. The warm drink would warm her stomach. Now, all they could do was wait until Valentina woke up. Nana had carefully wiped the child's face from the blood and sweat that had broke out as she tried to keep her clean.
An hour had passed, and they heard the child stir. Her face had a hint of color, and she no longer looked sickly. Valentina woke up and found her two mothers staring at her, worried.
"Valentina, how are you feeling?"
Valentina placed a hand on her head; she felt lightheaded. "I'm thirsty," she muttered. Her godmother handed her freshly brewed tea, and Valentina took it gratefully. She sat on her bed as she drank it greedily. The herbs infused in the tea made her feel more level-headed as the fatigue wore off. She was going to lie her head back down and go to sleep when she remembered the book she had hidden. She sprang to her feet, hoping Kanato hadn't found the book. To her relief, it was still hidden behind the radiator. Nana and La Bruja went down to the living room and asked her what was wrong, and Valentina fibbed, saying she had forgotten to finish her chores as she picked up a shirt to fold.
Her mother Nana, quickly came to her side to steady her and gently told her to lay down and rest. Valentina nodded in agreement, she still felt dizzy and couldn't help but let sleep consume her as Nana and La Bruja left her to rest. Everything had seemed like a bad dream, but her thoughts of Kanato followed her even in her sleep. She felt him lying beside her, staring at her in awe as he hugged her protectively. His cold hand held hers as he kissed them gently. She tried to say something, but he quietly shushed her into a deep kiss. He wrapped his arms around her to keep her in place as she felt the air leaving her. He pierced her bottom lip as the warm taste of blood tinted her lips a scarlet hue.
He was stroking his tongue against hers as he pinned his body against hers. She had unintentionally stuck her tongue out, trying to take in air, as he sucked on it, making a popping sound when he had let it go. He gave her time to catch her breath as he kissed her neck, feeling the curves of her body with his hands. He squeezed her tight round ass as he felt her shiver. She began to subconsciously rock her hips against him as she entangled her hands in his hair when he pulled her into another kiss. He had stuck his knee between her legs and began to rub up against her, causing a moan to escape her lips.
He smirked as he grabbed her left hand, placing her ring finger in his mouth as he bit down sharply. She whined in both pain and pleasure as he left a ring of teeth marks. He licked the small beads of blood and kissed her knuckles as he left a trail of kisses all over her arm until he reached the nape of her neck. He lowered the straps of her nightgown as her collarbones became exposed, and her cleavage was nearly spilling out. He lowered his head down to her bosom and bit above her left breast, hearing the beats of her heart quickening. His hands gently grazed her legs as he began to rock his hips against hers. Valentina's moans became music to his ears, and all he could do was restrain himself from devouring her. Her scent was enticing him. It was as if he was seated at a grand feast with all the delicacies any human could imagine, and all he was permitted was to drink a glass of water. He couldn't even take a single bite of the entree, or else she would break. All he could do was tease her as she arched her back towards him. As tantalizing as it was, his dessert could wait. She felt herself fall deeper and deeper into the abyss.
The sound of her blaring alarm clock startled her as she quickly rolled off her bed, quite frazzled. She managed to throw one of her shoes at the clock as it miraculously turned off. She got up slowly from the floor, pondering about her dream. Everything about this dream was intoxicating, and it had felt so surreal. She covered her face with her hands as she turned bright red, recalling everything vividly. She caught sight of barely noticeable dents encircling her ring finger.
It must be a coincidence, she tried telling herself. Though her left ring finger felt bruised to the touch, it was unsettling. She quickly got ready and decided to take the bangle that her godmother and Alberto had made for her, which would conceal her presence. She placed it in a cloth and tucked it in her dress pocket. Who knew when she might need it?
Valentina went to the kitchen, and to her surprise, she was met with only her Nana and godmother in the kitchen. Where was Alberto?
Before she could ask her father, Nana asked her how she felt.
"I still feel a bit tired," Valentina admitted, but she wasn't sure if it was from the lack of blood or sleep. Wondering if her dream was just a figment of her imagination.
"What happened?" Her Nana asked. "You were out cold when we found you."
Valentina felt pinned under her gaze. "I had been folding clothes, but I had started to feel lightheaded. I had tripped, and I ended up knocking some things down."
"Why was your nose bleeding then?"
Valentina could hear the doubt in Nana's voice, but she had told them she had gotten a nosebleed right before she started feeling lightheaded.
"Alberto hasn't come home." La Bruja said, interjecting.
Valentina's blood went cold. "How?" She vaguely remembers what had occurred when Kanato had caused her to faint. But he couldn't have done something to her father? After all, he promised not to kill any of her parents.
Nana fidgeted with her hands. "We're not sure. We just called the police and said they would be on the lookout. It isn't common for adults to go missing, but we must wait 48 hours to declare Alberto missing."
"Maybe he got hurt somewhere!" Valentina was starting to panic. Her father was at an old age where he shouldn't be working as hard. He was nearing his late 80s.
"Don't start to panic," La Bruja said, trying to calm her daughter. "It won't help the situation. The only thing we can do is hope he'll return to us."
Nana came over to hug her. "Try not to worry. We will go to the police department today once we drop you off at school. Will see if the police have found anything."
Valentina nodded her head as she kept her tears from spilling. She needed to talk with Yui.
Kanato's familiar observed the interaction between the woman in the kitchen. They were quickly flying back to report to the young master. Kanato was busy preparing for a little procedure as he was told about his prey going to school after all.
Kanato smiled sadistically, placing all the necessary cutting tools in a medical tray. After what happened earlier that day, he wouldn't let his toy just venture to school alone. Kanato had seen a side of Valentina that he wanted no one else to know. No one could make her sing like he could. He pulled on thick rubber gloves to prepare for the medical procedure he was about to conduct. His familiars all morphed into humanoid versions, as they would assist him in cutting a piece of this man's pre-frontal cortex. Kanato sliced Alberto's forehead open as he began to drill the frontal bone that stored the brain.
Kanato chuckled to himself. He wouldn't kill Valentina's parents, but he won't let them intervene. He was amused at Alberto's futile attempts.
"I wouldn't expect you to part with your daughter," Kanato said as he removed a piece of the cranium, peering down at the incapacitated man. His familiar injected the man with another dose of anesthesia to keep the man from waking up to a room of horrors.
Kanato reclaimed his composure and lowered his head to whisper in the man's ear. "I will take a piece of your memories, emotions, judgment, and social behavior. It's expected that weak, frail humans start to break down after a short span of time. No one but those closest to you would suspect anything. Don't worry, I'll make sure to take good care of Valentina."
With those last words, Kanato picked up the scalpel and began to slice.
