Guilty All The Same (English)

42 - Back Home

Yurika had not had a chance to process the journey. She had simply found herself in the car. Ferid had thrown the vehicle into drive without bothering to speak to her.

Was it seriously possible that he had believed Kureto's words? Her mind knew he didn't, but her heart couldn't help but process all the possible scenarios for her. She didn't have the courage to look at the vampire to confirm or deny her theses, she could only point her gaze to his hands entwined in her lap, visibly anxious. She was certain that her feelings were perceptible to the vampire's keen senses.

She was taken aback when they finally arrived home. Perhaps she was just afraid to face Ferid. She saw him get out of the car and head for the door. Yurika stood still for a moment, uncertain of what to do, blocked by insecurity. There was only one solution: make sure Ferid believed her and not her brother's empty words. It was essential. She decided to follow him inside.

"You took a while, my dear." Once again the icy coldness that shone through his words struck her deep.

"Do you... do you really think it could have all been calculated? That I did it just to manipulate you?"

"Admit that Kureto's words make sense. It would explain so much..."

Yurika felt her tears slowly fall. "I never pretended." She whispered.

The vampire remained completely still as he watched the girl cry. Evidently a certain streak of sadism had still remained in him to reduce himself to make the one he loved cry so often. Now they were safe, he could put an end to the pathetic farce he had enacted on the battlefield. Yet he had to admit that for a moment he had actually believed the words Kureto had spoken. And Yurika could not have imagined what they might mean to him.

They gave an explanation as to why the girl had fallen in love with him. Or rather, pretended to be in love with him. Because after all, maybe it really was impossible for a human to fall in love with a vampire.

The second after such thoughts he had been deeply ashamed of himself. To question Yurika's love was unacceptable. He had shown her right away on the battlefield that she cared for him and continued to do so now. He let the disruptive force of his emotions take over. Those emotions that had seemed to invade him ever since the girl had entered his life. Without bothering to contain his strength he pushed the girl violently against the wall, joining their lips in a kiss that was perhaps too passionate.

All this had taken place in half a fraction of a second and the girl had had no way of understanding what was happening. She felt the wall against her back, but also Ferid's passionate lips. Too passionate. Greedy for her. She sought out the vampire's body with her hands, while the vampire's hands held her neck tightly, as if to erase any distance between them. The vampire only broke away from Yurika's lips when he sensed the need for her to breathe. His eyes watched her as she tried to catch her breath.

"I love you Ferid. I love you." It was she who returned to his lips. She moved her hands, trying to undo Ferid's bow. But her hands were shaking. The vampire sensed what she was trying to do and understood her motives. She wasn't lucid. Not clear enough.

"Yurika, stop..." The girl looked at him with bewildered, confused eyes. "Are you trying to tell me that you would refuse?" She stroked his face with her fingertips.

The vampire shuddered. If her intention was to make his animal spirit prevail and make him lose control, she had almost succeeded. The animal in him was almost ready to take possession of him, without critically analysing the circumstances. Why do it? Yurika was giving herself over and he was not forcing her in any way.