Bloody Petals

Chapter 11

"Welcome to the Moon Dorm, Prefects." Both Yuuki and Zero turned their heads when they heard the voice, though the hunter already registered the presence even before the figure's arrival. Aido bowed in a prince-like manner and welcomed them with that smug smile of his.

"That smile will be wiped out once the inspection starts." Yuuki whispered to Zero and the hunter saw the blonde's eyebrow twitched. Of course, even a mere whisper could be heard by a vampire, especially in a very quiet place like the Moon Dorm.

There was no other figure in sight but Zero knew they were almost surrounded. He didn't let his anxiousness go noticeable. It seemed Aido noticed though. "Don't worry, Kiryuu. Everyone received a debriefing last night. No one will even dare show hostility to the two of you. Kaname-sama made sure of that." The blonde's voice was so quiet that not even Yuuki who was beside them heard. But Zero, having both hunter and vampire senses, heard it just clearly. He nodded in silence and Aido seemed satisfied enough.

"Anyway, I'll be your tour guide right now while Kaname-sama is busy. He'll be here later." Aido said in his usual voice.

Zero observed Aido's actions towards Yuuki, and he could see that the blonde was not showing any respect or anything close to that. It seemed the fact that they were siblings was hidden by Kaname...

"Oy, Cross! Are you listening to me?" Aido stomped loudly on the tiled floor. "I said I will be the tour guide. Why the hell are you walking ahead of me!?"

Yuuki flicked her hair and smiled sweetly as she turned around. "Because you're slow, Aido-senpai."

"What?" Aido walked right beside the girl, towering over her. And thus, the endless bickering that wouldn't end until Kaname arrives started. Zero, for the first time in his life, wished that he'd hurry up so Aido and Yuuki's mouths would stop.

The blonde showed them to different parts of the dorm, which was basically like the Sun Dorm's structure, except for the thicker walls, grander atmosphere, and larger structure and area. Of course, that was because there was at least twice the number of Night Class students staying in the Moon Dorm than the number of students staying in the Sun Dorm.

Kaname arrived several minutes after the so-called tour. Zero was already in the huge dining hall together with Aido and the other vampires, and he was very ill-at-ease, what with all the bloodlust that he could feel in the air. There were many long tables in the dining hall and all of them were filled with Night Class students, among whom were still stretching and yawning because the inspection was in the middle of the night for them. But the sight and scent of delicious and thick hunter blood was enough to wake everyone up.

Zero was just so glad that he was sitting at the table together with the other nobles who had more control and reserve. By now, these nobles were already familiar with his scent that their eyes weren't glowing crimsons at the sight of him anymore. But the other vampires with lesser nobility in them still couldn't help but feel an intense urge to sink their fangs in a beautiful hunter neck and drink delicious hunter blood. Yuuki was eating quietly while Zero was merely poking his food, not in any way interested in eating happily and ignorantly while he was being perceived as one of the foods on the table. And besides, the two of them had just eaten in the Sun Dorm before they went to the place so he was unsure how Yuuki could eat so much while his stomach still felt heavy with the earlier meal.

"Didn't anyone teach you that poking your food is a bad manner?" A voice spoke from the doorway and all of them immediately stood up from their seats and bowed down to their waist in greeting, except Zero and Yuuki of course who stayed in their seats. Yuuki smiled sweetly at her older brother while Zero merely glared for being scolded by a vampire about manners.