Vampire Knight: Punishment ((COMPLETE))

13- I Am Free

"It's time..."

Blake saw Lee speaking those chilling words. Or was it all in her head? Suddenly, all the memories stopped, letting her breathe once more. She sat up. That something...whatever it was inside her had stopped growing. The memories stopped too. Blake felt her heart drop. That beast inside was the real her. She wanted it. She wanted to be revived. She also wanted Lee. That thing inside her was longing for him. 

"Lee..." Blake whispered, calling out for him. Hopefully, he'd hear. Just then, in less than a full second, Lee was there, holding her in his strong arms. His mousy-brown hair brisked her face, and she breathed in, smells of winter roses drifting to her nose. She let him hold her, pain stomping up and down her veins, her blood pumping quickly. She couldn't make out what he was whispering to her, but she knew it had to do with unleashing her. She nodded weakly, trying to murmur yes. 

Wait. What was he doing? Something ripped into her neck, and before long she realized it was his teeth. She let out a cry of pain, leaning her head back. She shut her eyes tightly. Something was pumping into her veins. It was his blood! His venom. Sinking into her blood vessels and flowing through her veins. She could feel it slide down into her heart. It burned...burned so horribly bad. She screamed, but Lee covered her mouth, sorrow shimmering in his cold, red eyes. 

"I'll never be alone again.." He whispered. "Thank you...Chalice...For being so kind." 

Lee's eyes glowed in the darkness of the night. Blake trembled. She could feel her insides twisting and turning...changing and molding into something else as his blood filled her. What felt like fire burned through her heart and veins, sinking into the rest of her body...slowly. Painfully. Blake's eyes were wide, and she flailed in his grip as a new surge of pain entered her brain. The images were coming back again, but at the same time she didn't know where she was. It was all coming back.

"Why did you take my punishment?" Lee whispered into her ear, still holding her mouth shut. Blake squeezed her eyes close. Why had she...then it hit her like a bus. All the memories of Lee and her's past...

Blake gulped, her throat extremely dry. It was because...she loved him.

The pain was becoming too much, nailing and digging and writhing under her skin, slowly and mournfully unleashing the Pureblood within her. 

Lee...I'm scared...Don't let me go. Hold me tightly. Please...I'm scared because...the real me is coming. Soon. 

Blake hung onto Lee, visibly trembling. She whimpered, looking into his glowing, red eyes. Too much pain..I can't.. Blake hit unconsciousness almost instantly. 

Croy rushed into the dorm, at Lee's side. He looked at the crouched Lee, holding onto Blake as he injected his blood into her neck. Blake's eyes were closed, but she still looked like she was in extreme pain. Her brows were furrowed, and she murmured something every once and a while. Lee stood, Blake laying in his firm arms. He turned to face Croy. 

"Croy, bring her to the night-class dorm and guard her along with the others. Don't trust anyone. A weakened or newly-awakened Pureblood leads to horrible things. Some will try to take advantage of dear Blake. I know you will not let me down." Lee put the unconscious soon-to-be Pureblood in Croy's hands. His gaze was cruel as he stared at Croy. "Protect her with your life." He then strode to the door. He had business to attend to.

Croy nodded, opening the window and jumping from it, landing on the ground without a hint of pain nailing him. Still he held Blake, who was shaking in his cold arms. She was slowly changing... Croy ran. As hard as he could. He could smell vampires in the woods. He knew they could smell the blood of a weak Pureblood. This only made him run faster.

Leesa stood up from the couch in the lobby just before Croy entered. He stared at her. She nodded, understanding what was to be done. She would make up for her lack of understanding. Her lack of service to Chalice. She took Blake in her arms, darting to Lee's room in the far back of the hall, laying her in his bed and tucking her in. Leesa looked down at Chalice, stroking her soft face. It was loosing its human heat. Blake was paling second by second, beginning to tremble more because of pain than of the cold. 

Leesa whirled her head around, Croy doing the same as they saw Anya in the hall, walking to the room they were in. She had a crazy smirk on her face.

"You knew," Leesa whispered. "You knew all along."

Anya began to laugh crazily.

Croy snarls, "You monster! Anya, stand down! I don't want to hurt you, An!" Leesa holds Croy back, shaking her blonde head. Croy looked at Leesa, confused.

"This is my job." Leesa whispered. "I'll finish her on my own." Leesa sprints toward Anya, tackling her in the hall. Croy closed the doors,locking it and heaving a dresser in front of it. Just in case. He sat on a chair besides the bed, watching the door. 

Meanwhile, Anya kicked Leesa off of her, growling, "You wretched sister! I never liked you..." She smiled, revealing sharp fangs. "...I was pretending all along." She giggled insanely, biting into Leesa's shoulder. 

"Ah!" Leesa cries out, shoving her sister off of her. Leesa narrowed her eyes, plants swirling around her. Roots latched onto Anya, tugging her down to the ground. Anya flails, hissing and growling. Leesa watched, shaking her head. What had happened to her sister? "The Council...they've gotten to your head. Haven't they?" 

Anya remains in her fit of rage, trying to struggle out of the plants that forced her down. Leesa calmly walks over to her. She leaned down, face-to-face with her sister, who tried to nip her. "I'm sorry, Anya..." Leesa grabbed her sister's neck, pushing hard. Snap!

Lee drew near to a grave in the cemetery. "Mother, our legacy will live on. But the Council is forcing humans and vampires into a war. But I promise...I'll keep her safe. No matter what."

Blake's eyes opened. She slowly sat up, looking in the mirror on the wall. Her vision was precise as she stared at herself in curiosity. She tilted her head, her mind still fuzzy as she slowly remembers what had happened to her. Her eyes were red, her face pale and smooth...her skin icy cold and perfect. She touched her finger to her mouth, her fangs pricking her finger and drawing blood. Blake raised her head to the ceiling. "Lee."