Guilty All The Same (English)

18 - Moves

"Here we are, darling." Yurika watched mesmerized as Ferid's hand placed another book on the now very tall pile that had formed on the table. She swallowed, feeling slightly unmotivated.

It would take her a long time to get through them all. She sat back in her chair, unable to stop looking at them. "There are so many." "And they're not even all of them, I only brought you the ones that seemed most useful." "Thank you very much, Ferid. I'm sorry you had to do this."

The vampire took a seat on the couch. "Don't mention it, I'm happy to help." "I'll just have to start reading them." Ferid laughed. "The books can wait, come here with me."

Yurika looked at the vampire and the pile of books, then picked up the last one he had brought her and went to sit next to him holding the book in her lap. "How about this?"

"You can devote yourself to them later, when you're alone."

Yurika turned to the vampire. "Do you need to go out?" "Unfortunately, yes, the queen summoned me to speak about some matters."

The girl thought back to the pink-haired vampire she had already crossed paths with. It still made her strange to think that, what seemed like a harmless little girl, was the vampire queen.

"It almost seems strange that she really is the strongest vampire in Japan." She whispered. Ferid laughed. "Appearances are often deceiving. Especially in a world like this." "And what do you discuss when you're with her?" "Mah, vampire stuff." He replied.

The girl sighed, she wasn't really interested, but she had some curiosity about it. She felt Ferid's arm wrapping around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him, so she leaned back against his body thinking the vampire had a point, once he was gone, she could take her time reading books. She felt the vampire's lips rest gently on her head and smiled.

"Are you thirsty?" Ferid closed his eyes, listening to the girl's heartbeat and thinking back to the sweet taste of her blood. He would have gladly sunk his fangs into Yurika's delicate neck more often if only he hadn't risked killing her. He also knew that the interview with the queen would take time, as he had another matter to attend to. He also knew that his homes were not the preferred destination of any vampire, but just in case something unforeseen occurred he could not risk leaving Yurika weakened by blood loss.

"And then leave you here alone and helpless? I don't think so."

The girl stiffened. She hadn't thought that she would find herself completely alone once the vampire left the house, and this tension in her body didn't go unnoticed by the vampire's eyes.

"Yurika?" The girl broke away from his grasp. "You're going to leave me here all alone." "No one will come to bother you." "What if something happens like..." "I'll tell you again, no one comes near me of their own free will and uninvited, trust me." Yurika lowered her gaze.

"I feel safe with you." Those words struck the vampire, going to move his heart that had stopped beating for too many centuries. He took one of the girl's hands and kissed it. "Nothing will happen to you, I promise."

She stared at him, nodding weakly. She had noticed something different in both the look and the tone of the vampire's voice. It wasn't the usual joking tone, but it was more serious. Calm and steady. Reassuring.

"And then you have your demon." Ferid added. "I know, but I still get a little anxiety." "Don't think about it. You could take a nice hot bath to relax, isn't that a good idea?" "Sure." And there he was, back to his usual Ferid self.

Actually, even the vampire was not completely convinced of leaving his Yurika completely alone, but he had no other choice, taking her with him would have been too great a risk to take, and moreover taking her on her way to Krul's would have been a reckless gesture. If Krul understood the feelings that bound him to the girl, he risked that she might get strange ideas. The longer he could hide it, the better it would be for him.