Guilty All The Same (English)

31 - Krul Tepes

Ferid headed home as fast as he could, his body gripped by an anxiety he didn't think he would still be able to feel. An anxiety that was entirely justified. Krul had been at Yurika's in his absence. That meant that she had already suspected something when she had visited him.

What had betrayed him?

But there was no point in trying to dwell on what he had done now.

He couldn't go back. And if the irreparable had happened, he would hardly have been able to forgive himself. For not having seen the danger he was putting Yurika in, for not having foreseen all this. He who had always been so good at manipulating others, even Krul herself.

Instead, this time he had fallen into the spider's trap. That explained why he had been involved in such an anonymous mission. It had been a simple diversion used by Krul to have free rein.

Burning anger raged through his body. Thinking back to his last conversation with Yurika only made him feel worse. He couldn't take losing her, not like this. If anything had happened to her, it would make Krul regret her actions. It was the last thing he would do. He was definitely out of his mind.

"Yurika! Yurika!" He screamed as soon as he crossed the threshold, almost as if his extreme agitation prevented him from using his honed vampire senses. He rushed to the ground floor room where he had left her before leaving, but she wasn't there. He headed for the room and threw the door open.

He stared dreamily at the figure before him.

"Ferid..."

Yurika was there, in front of him. Whole.

He stood motionless for a second, then sprang upon her, holding her tightly to his chest.

"My love."

The girl sank her head into his chest and lay still, aware of what had just happened.

Ferid must have confirmed Krul's suspicions.

She shuddered as she thought back to the vampire's visit, the feeling of being at a dead end still well within her. The hot bath she'd indulged in afterwards hadn't helped at all to calm her down.

"You're fine." Whispered the vampire, still unable to part from her. It didn't seem real to him that Yurika was still alive. Krul hadn't hurt her.

He felt a chill run through the girl's body. He stroked her head gently. This was to serve as a warning to him for the future, he should never expose the girl to such a risk again. Too bad he had just ruined everything, his attempt to keep his feelings for the girl from showing. Now Krul would have no doubt about it.

A low, deep growl went through his body. He was still too enraged. Yurika tried to pull away from him, thinking he had resentment towards her.

"Ferid." She whispered.

"How could I have made you take such a risk? How could I not see the danger? I'd even left after that stupid scene... I'd never have forgiven myself if she'd done anything to you. Never."

His strong arms seemed unwilling to let go of the young woman.

Ferid sighed, now he had to understand the situation better. "Yurika. What exactly did she say to you?" The girl sighed and began to narrate.

Following Kurena's advice seemed impossible to her. She was facing the vampire queen, a monster completely out of her league. She had already been seen by the vampire once. Yet on that occasion she and Ferid were not yet a couple. What had she come to do? She did not resolve to speak, merely observing the vampire, perhaps with a look that betrayed what she was feeling.