What We've Missed Without You

chapter 29

*sorry for the mistakes*

Yui knew she had to face them at some point, her past demons that still haunt her to this day. It was their house after all, of course she was bound to see them again. For a blissful ignorant second, she found peace in the fact that the crowd of vampire aristocrats covered her presence in a cloud of expensive french perfume and the thick liquid swirling in wine glasses Yui knew all too well by this point. But good things can never last forever, especially in this moment. Somehow, she managed to confront just a bit of her past. The sight of Subaru terrified her, but seeing him and Hayato connect as father and son lifted just a small amount of weight from her soul. It was relieving, to put it, that she was slowly overcoming what haunted her in her light slumbers. Subaru knew what he did was wrong but still wished to be in Hayato's life more than anything, that alone aided Yui in making the first step forward. But that path to acceptance was still so far, one step in the right direction faced her against those demons all at once. Late into the night, Karlheinz called for all of his guest to join him in a feast oh-so generously provided by him. The tails of designer suit jackets and skirts of custom-made dresses fluttered by as vampire aristocrats hurried to find a seat at the round tables covered with lilac tablecloths that suddenly appeared at the sides of the dance floor; servants came through the doors pushing carts with silver dinner domes to serve the first plate of the seven-course dinner alongside refreshments. Yui rushed her children close to her as she tried to find a table for them, she only saw the tables being filled one by one with aristocratic vampires seated in ornate velvet-lined chairs laughing while drinking and eating amongst their friends. Before she knew it, the old servant from the front door appeared out of thin air and to her rescue:

"Follow me, Miss. Your table awaits here." The old man bowed his head respectfully towards the pale blonde before turning, walking briskly towards the Komori family's supposed table as the family followed suit. As Yui brushed pass each table, she could hear their chatter; each step of her heels against the polished floor lead to more chatter and comments following her around. It was a busied frenzy Yui had gotten used to, maybe because she had gotten used to the idea of people talking trash about her for years now. Comments from aristocratic vampires weren't really anything she hasn't heard before:

"My my, is that the little thing we smelled earlier?"

"How moronic does she have to be to cut herself in a ballroom of vampires? Perhaps she doesn't know?"

"I saw her bite her finger earlier, she knew. What is that woman planning? To lure men closer to her?"

"Why was she invited? I thought this is a vampires only event."

"Perhaps she's Lord Karlheinz's new plaything. He's always had a fancy for young pretty things."

"This thing is a human, she'll die in no time."

"Perhaps Lord Karlheinz is bored for the meantime! Ho ho ho!"

"Are those her children? They look nothing like her or each other."

"Bastard children, wouldn't be surprising coming from the young lords."

"Maybe she's looking to sell off those children for a price! Ho hoho!"

"Ha ha ha! Or what if she's an escort hired by Lord Karlheinz for Lord Subaru?"

"He doesn't care about him that much."

"You're right...I wonder if that little thing will let me have a taste of her blood, it smelt awfully delectable."

"Dear, can we have her? She smells divine~! She can play nice with the others."

"God, what I would give to bite into that frail neck."

The comments slowly became thirst-induce, vampires commenting on how much they should bid on Yui or her children to Karlheinz made the anxiety almost disappear with the rage boiling in her stomach. Comments about her, Yui could live with...But how they all laughed and chatted casually about wanting to purchase her children and treat them like dirt, it made her blood boil. Anger was something she could rarely feel, yet it took control of her limbs by clenching onto the fabric of her skirt tightly until her knuckles turned white. It wasn't wise to confront them, but oh how she wished to. Yui silenced the negative feeling bubbling in her stomach by putting on a fake smile, the anxiety that riddled her heart faded away ever so slightly with the fire of protection. I'll make sure none of them go through what I've been through, Yui thought to herself, the only way I can protect them is care for them like I've always have. Nothing will change that. The butler leading the group pulled the chairs away from the empty table to allow room for everyone to sit in; Yui came around to help the shortest two of the group, Airi and Hayato, by lifting them into their seats before pushing their chairs in. The butler pushed in Momoi's chair before going around and waiting behind Yui's seat until she sat down on the plush velvet, pushing in afterwards. The older butler came around to Yui's side, clapping his hands to have more servants come over with carts of small finger foods and sparkling bottles lined in an organized row.