Once Upon a Vampire's Dreams

Enter Cross Academy

As the door to the Moon Dormitory closed behind them, Claudia found
herself reaching for Kaname's sleeve. She grabbed the cuff of it and
looked up at him to make sure it was alright for her to be so close to
him in public. Just because it had been alright last night when he was
bringing her here, she couldn't be certain that it was okay now.

Kaname looked down at her and smiled, happiness showing in his red
eyes. "Are you nervous?"

Claudia nodded.

"Don't worry," Kaname reassured. "You don't have to dive into it head
first right away. For now, we're just going to introduce you to the
Headmaster and a close friend of mine, okay?"

Claudia swallowed and nodded. She was so far out of her comfort zone.
Her whole world had changed in a matter of hours. This time yesterday,
she was being prepped for Lord Kaname's arrival and now she was
clinging on to his sleeve for dear life as he threw her into his world
head first.

The gate to the Moon Dormitory opened silently, the scary gate keeper
nodding to Kaname. As they walked to the school, Claudia noticed more
and more people were staring at them. The girls were fawning all over
Kaname, yet still keeping a respectful distance. Unfortunately, many
of them were either fawning over Claudia or glaring at her. Humans
were confusing.

"Oh my gosh, isn't she just the cutest thing!" A boy with horn-rimmed
glasses and a terrible haircut gushed, grabbing the hem of the pink
coat Kaname had handed her this morning. "Oh, please tell me you're a
member of the Night Class, goddess, and not a figment of my
imagination!"

Claudia recoiled, clutching onto Kaname's arm with both hands in terror.

Kaname looked over at the groveling Day Class student with a mix of
anger and disgust. The Day Class student instantly backed away in
fear. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean anything by it, I promise!" he
apologized, shaking.

Kaname led Claudia away from the Day Class student, still fixing him
to the spot with an icy stare, and toward the building. Gradually she
relaxed and resumed grabbing Kaname's sleeve.

Kaname ran a hand through his hair and looked down at Claudia. "I'm
sorry, are you alright?"

Claudia looked up at him and nodded.

They reached the building and Kaname held one side of the heavy oak
double doors open for her, following Claudia into the building. He led
up her up a flight of stairs and down a hallway before knocking on a
door. Claudia noticed that there was a brass plaque on the door that
said 'Headmaster Kaien Cross.' For some reason that name seemed
familiar to her but she couldn't quite put a finger on why.

"Come in," a light tenor voice spoke from the other side of the door.

Kaname opened the door and entered, Claudia following him. She grabbed
his sleeve again as she stood by him.

"Oh, Kaname, how nice to see you." A tall man with a blond ponytail
and a green shawl wrapped around his shoulders turned away from the
bookcase against the right wall, a red-bound book in his hand. He
adjusted his glasses, pushing them farther up his nose. "You must be
Claudia," he said, moving forward, stretching his hand out toward her.
"My name is Kaien Cross, the headmaster at this academy."

Claudia looked up at Kaname. He smiled at her, "It's alright,
Headmaster Cross won't hurt you, either."

Claudia nodded in affirmation and gently grasped Kaien's hand in hers,
giving it a small shake.

The Headmaster grinned in delight. "Oh, isn't she just adorable,
Kaname? Just like my Yuki." He coughed and collected himself.
"Claudia, has Kaname told you what we do here at the Academy?"