My Vampires

Chapter 27

Gabriel
"That's what a single red rose symbolizes. 'Only you'"

looked at the battered red rose. It almost seemed to be glowing with the last traces of its life.

Kira
"But Vlad said that he just brought me the most beautiful flower in his garden..."

Gabriel
"Since Vlad was locked up in his mansion for most of his childhood, he had a lot of time to spare."  He told me there was a book there, with the names of all the flowers in the world and what they meant, and he memorized it."  "...He wouldn't give you a flower without thinking of its meaning, Kira."

I know... He taught me all about flowers and their meanings, with that soft smile on his face.

Flashback

Vlad
"Go to her before they wilt. Gerberas symbolize hope and progress."  "So have hope, and take a step forward."

——

Vlad
"They're clematises."  "They're often planted by the entrances of inns, to comfort weary travelers."  "The clematis symbolizes a traveler's happiness."

Flashback Ends

He gave me a rose that meant "Only you" and then desperately clung to me, his fingers trembling.  I don't want to get the wrong idea, but it almost makes me feel like...I'm special to Vlad. And that maybe, just maybe, I can move his heart. But...I know very clearly that he won't give up on his determination to change the future. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of emotions. I heard le Comte say in a husky voice,

Gabriel
"...Haha. I tried to help but I think I might've just confused you even further."

Kira
"...Comte."

Gabriel
"The morning after his family was killed, Vlad came to see me, all by himself." "He didn't say a word. He just smiled at me and then disappeared."  "The same thing happened the day he saw the end of the world. He gave me a vague smile and then disappeared." "...I'm always losing sight of him." 

After I left le Comte's room, I didn't feel like going back to my bedroom, so Iwent out on the balcony.  My head was swimming with the stories of Vlad's past. It seemed like some kind of fairytale. looked down at the red rose in my hand.  Vlad mercilessly cuts down diseased flowers in order to protect the other flowers. He cares for the future so much he'll do anything to protect it, including sacrificing people if need be.   And he knows full well that other people won't understand why, because they haven't seen what he's seen. His emotions are so pure they can be sharp and cruel like a knife.  I don't know what's the right or wrong answer here, and I know I shouldn't come to a conclusion too quickly.  But there was one thing I did know.  If many people have to be sacrificed, saving the future will be in vain.  Taking people's lives, even if it's to protect others, has to be wrong, no matter what. Also... Would Vlad really be satisfied knowing how many people had to pay the price for the world to be saved?  If I'm not just being optimistic, then Vlad thinks he needs me.  But I'm not enough to change him.  I was frustrated at how useless I felt, and I remembered that one night...

Flashback

Vlad
"A long, long time ago I was feeling so hopeless I wanted everything to end, even my life."  "And then she saved me." "But she disappeared. I searched all over for her, but I could never find her."

Flashback Ends

Vlad has been searching for someone for a very long time.  She saved him from a hopelessness so dark he thought his life was over.  The promise he exchanged with her, and her warmth, had sustained him for this long. That person meant everything to Vlad. She was like a protective charm to him.   Maybe she would be able to save Vlad from his twisted love.  But he's been searching for her for a very long time without any clues. She could be anywhere. And if she's a human then...Then she probably passed away a long time ago.  I wish I would've been the girl in the portrait with no face. Then I could save his heart one more time.  I bit my lip trying not to cry, when suddenly I felt something cold upon my cheek. looked up at the sky.  Fluffy snowflakes like feathers from an angel's wing were slowly floating down. Tomorrow was December 24th...