No Warmth

Chapter 7- Nightmare

Akari stood in a field of black roses. She looked around and froze when she a familiar couple that walked in the distance.

A white-haired woman in a white kimono walked alongside a brown-haired man in a black kimono.

"Mother! Father! Please wait!" Akari ran towards them. However, a sudden force caused her to tumble face first into the black roses beneath.

As she tried to sit up, a sword pierced through her chest. The blade retreated but left a gaping wound.

"Running is futile."

Akari trembled, but she managed to look over her shoulder.

A black-haired boy with red eyes held a bloodstained sword over her head. "It's over." He brought his sword down and everything faded to black.

Akari opened her eyes and leapt out of bed. She touched her chest and breathed out slowly when she saw her nightgown was free of bloodstains.

"Akari, you're okay now." Rima put her hands on Akari's shoulders and gently pushed her back towards the bed. "You need to rest since you lost a lot of blood yesterday."

Akari sat on the bed and looked around the room. She was back in her dorm room.

"I'm going to call Senri and Takuma; they'll want to know you're finally awake." Rima rushed out of the room.

A few moments later, she returned with Takuma and Senri.

"Akari, we're so glad you're okay!" Takuma pulled her into a hug. "We were so worried."

"What happened after I collapsed yesterday?"

"One of the maids found you and brought you to your room. She was the one who switched your clothes too." Rima explained.

"I see." Akari was silent for a few seconds before she spoke again. "I am sorry I left your party and didn't tell you, Takuma. Also, I am sorry I ruined your dress, Rima."

Rima huffed. "You're an idiot if you think that's what we're worried about right now."

Takuma tightened the hug. "I don't know what happened between you and that hunter, but don't ever scare us like that again."

"The important thing is that she is alive and recovering," Senri put his hand on Takuma's shoulder.

Takuma released her and stepped back.

Senri turned to Akari. "We can share some of our blood with you to speed up your recovery."

Akari blinked for a few seconds. "Thank you, but I'll pass."

Takuma grinned. "No need to feel shy! You can always ask Rima for blood if you're too embarrassed to drink from me or Senri."

Akari shook her head. "I am not desperate enough for blood that I would feed off my friends."

The trio stared at her with puzzled expressions.

"Oh, I forgot you've lived with humans most of your life. Did you ever drink blood, Akari?" Takuma rubbed the back of his neck.

Akari stiffened. "I drank blood from any Level E and human criminal I could find on the streets. Their blood was disgusting, but I still fed off of them lest I attack my family."

"Your family and friends were all human, so we understand your actions. However, vampires often feed off of their loved ones. Moreover, once you fall in love, you'll develop a blood-lust that can only be quenched by the blood of your beloved." Takuma explained.