The Rosen Vampire Knight Series

RoseThorned Vampire: Chapter 11

Emma

The room had gone deathly silent when the doors had opened. I found myself standing on a small balcony. To my left and right were staircases that spiraled to the ball room floor below. The room was full with noble vampires and a few pureblood families had showed up. 

Everyone's gaze was on me, reading me and assessing me. I was incredibly nervous, but I did my best to hold myself together. I walked over to the stairs on the right and placed my left hand on the rail. I forced myself to look out at the crowd and give a gentle smile. My eyes locked onto Kaito's subconciously. I didn't notice I was staring at him until half way down the stairs.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, Kaito came up to me from across the room---I was sure Korrina had placed him there on purpose---and met me. He took my free hand, my right, and guided me over to the table he had been standing next to at the front of the room. The noise of small talk returned to the room as we reached the table. The butlers ontop of the balcony closed the double doors and stood in front of them on the inside of the room.

I stayed with Kaito during the ball. Several purebloods came up to me to introduce themselves, some of them even dared to kiss the top of my hand. Kaito kept his eyes on those who were getting a little too friendly with me and butted in on the conversation when he had enough. I learned of the many branches of a pureblood family called Kurenai. One of the girls who had pure white hair like me was named Maria---not to be confused with Kaito's little sister Maira. 

Speaking of Maira, I hadn't seen her the whole time I had been here. Kaito informed me that Korrina had excluded her from the ball because of the last time she went to one. It had been her first appearance at a ball and every vampire in this room had learned of how her mind was twisted. I was sure the little girl was going to grow up into trouble when she was older. 

In the mean time, I tried several different dishes I hadn't heard of before. I didn't dare ask Kaito what they were for fear that they would come back up if I did ask him. Kaito was being extra careful, keeping his eyes and ears open to danger. He was the one who brought me glasses of blood or tested them if someone else brought me one. I didn't like that he was the one taste testing them. He was at much a risk as I was. We knew what had happened to me the last time.

"How are you enjoying yourself?" A young vampire man came up to me and asked as Kaito went away to attend to something.

"I'm fine. Thanks for asking." I said simply. Telling him in a polite way that I wasn't up to talking right now.

"I've heard many things about you. That you were a sleeping pureblood." He said.

"Now how did you come to learn about that?" I asked, a bit surprised but hiding the emotion.

"I've got my sources." He said."Well, I hope you continue to enjoy the ball." the young man said and waved a single goodbye as he walked away.

Kaito came back to me."What was up with him?" He asked.

"I don't know..." I said out loud and thought: but I have a bad feeling about it.

We took no notice of it however, and continued with the party. Kaito led me in a couple of dances that Korrina had scheduled for us and then we went back to our table to relax. As soon as we did however, Toran came over and got Kaito by the arm and dragged him off somewhere. He had been laughing---a relief to see since he had been so serious lately. I wondered if Arashi had gotten his friend drunk to pick up his spirits. 

Looking around the room I was completely alone on this side. Most people were up ball room dancing in the center of the floor. I gazed on and watched with little intrest, now and then taking sips from my glass. This evening hadn't been as hard as I had expected it to be. Just then, someone plopped down in the chair beside me.