Of Blood and Memories

The academy’s broad wooden doors creaked open to reveal the dark lobby of the Cross Academy. I walked in and sat my large suitcase down on the wooden floors. I looked around and saw no one to guide me to the Headmaster’s office. There was no one period. I sighed and sat on a large red velvet couch to wait.

“What are you doing out here?” A young girl walked down the staircase to the left of the lobby. She had long flowing brown hair and wore the Cross Academy Day Class uniform.

“I’m waiting for the Headmaster.” I answered, standing to meet the young girl.

“Headmaster,” The girl laughed darkly. “Good luck finding him.”

“I need to find him. I need my papers and schedule.”

“Come with me.” The girl turned towards a door near the stairs. She opened the door and went inside. I followed her hesitantly. The label on the door was partially scratched off; all it said was headmaster. She opened a file cabinet in the corner and pulled out a folder. “Name?”

“Rosalind Akita,” I said. The girl pulled out a file and threw it on the wooden desk in front of her.

“Akita. Here.” The girl handed a piece of paper to me. The paper had a list of class names, rooms and teachers.

“Thanks miss.” I said and turned to leave.

“Rin,” She called after me without looking up. “My name.”

I walked out of the room and up the stairs. I kept my face in my schedule, trying to memorize my room number and schedule. I was a Night Class Student, the typical Vampire. I figured I wouldn’t fit in, being from America and not being the average Vampire. I knew pretty much everything about the school, including the history of its founders and the latest scandals but I was not very good at certain school subjects.

My shoulder bumped into someone and I fell up the stairs. “Sorry, sorry, I’m sorry.” I said, leaning down to pick up my papers and suitcase. Everything had fallen out.

“Do you want some help?” I looked up and a young boy was there. He had silvery-white hair and pale skin but he wore the Day Class uniform. “Oh, I’m not human.” He smiled. “I’m Suzu Kiryu.”

I fell back against the railing of the stairs. “Kiryu?” I had heard that name when doing my research of the school. “Related to Zero Kiryu?”

“My father.” The boy smiled and picked up my schedule. “Do I get a name?”

“Rosalind Akita.” I extended my hand and bowed.

“You’re not Japanese?”

“Not fully. I’ve been living in America. My mother is American and my father Japanese.” I grabbed some clothes to put back in my suitcase. Suzu picked up a piece of my clothing, which happened to be a bra.

“Oh?” He laughed, examining it. I snatched it from him and blushed. “I’ll help you find your room.”

Suzu led me outdoors and pointed to a few buildings. “All human dorms. They’re all asleep right now, it is Night Class time. No worries, you don’t have to go tonight.” He looked up at the moon and smiled. “It’s beautiful isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” I said and kept walking. We reached the dorm furthest from the academy. He opened the door for me and pointed me inside.

“Let’s go upstairs!” Suzu took my suitcase from me and started up the stairs. He led me up two levels and to the room two from the end of the hall. It was eerie quiet due to the absence of students. “Here we are. Room 324. I’m right next door if you ever need me.” He started to leave but I grabbed his arm.

“You’re a vampire, right?” I asked, setting my suitcase down.

“Of course.” He grinned and leaned on the frame of the door.

“Then why do you wear the Day Class uniform?”  I backed up, letting him inside.

“You want to hear a story?” He closed the door behind him and sat on the edge of my bed. “You’re aware of the purebloods, yes?” I nodded. “My mother was a pureblood. Her vampire DNA was sealed when her parents died. She was attacked as a child and Kaname Kuran found her. He took her here and she grew up with my father. She was brought up as a human, wearing the Day Class uniform and everything. She was unaware she was a pureblood until she was awoken by Kaname later. There were some huge battles, Kaname sacrificed himself and my father and mother had me. My mother enrolled me as a Day Class student before her and my father died. She wanted us to protect the humans.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” I said. I was aware of part of his story, the death of all three vampires.

“It’s been awhile. My sister and I have been taking care of the academy since.”

“Your sister wears the Day Class uniform also?” I opened my suitcase and put my clothes away. I found my Night Class uniform in the closet.

“Yeah,” He sighed. “She’s not as warm and welcoming as me.”

“Her name’s Rin?” I turned and ran my hand through my light brown hair.

“You’ve met her?” He looked up and bit his lip.

“Sadly.” I smiled and Suzu laughed.

“You’re a charming girl.” Suzu stood. “Not many vampires are as friendly as you. Most of them are tense and don’t trust us as much. Since, well, I’m sure you heard.”

“The school being shut down, yatta-yatta.”

“Yeah, that’s it.” He smiled and started for the door. “I should go now or my sister will get fussy.”

Suzu walked out of the room and back downstairs. I waited a few seconds before feeling the impulse to follow him. I ran out of my door and towards the stairs. I walked down the first flight and then heard two people talking in hushed tones. One of them I could tell was Suzu. His voice was rough unlike when he talked to me.

“Has he wandered out of his room today?” Suzu asked.

“Once. He was hungry.” I recognized the voice as coming from Rin.

“What did you do?”

“I gave him the best human food we have.” She sighed. “I want to know-“

“Rin, he won’t remember.”

“He might! How do you know?” Rin raised her voice.

“Yuki didn’t remember her memories. Our father told us that.”

“Your father.” Rin almost screamed. “Kaname is my father.”