Prologue
The First Sacrifice
24th of March, Year 1000
It was the maid that first saw the body.
Or what was left of it, rather. Lying scattered across the soft plushness of the master's armchair, glittering silver, were fine shards of glass. Remarkably in the likeness of fine white jewels, clear and sharp and in the entirely jagged and irregular shapes that betrayed its origin. A fine dusting of smaller glasslike particles caused the dark forest green of the seat to glitter as if lit up by stars. It was all a rather beautiful sight.
Let it be known that a Pureblood's death and even their remains are beautiful things to behold. Beautiful in life, immortal and ever-unchanging, they are rulers of their kind, until they are shattered in mere moments, whence they leave the world in light and in beauty. They shatter and scatter, leaving the world bathed for a few seconds bathed in celestial light. Once the glow has faded, they leave behind mere shards of a substance that resembles glass, if glass were to be so beautiful and contain a soft glow.
One such Pureblood died as of this day, a lone bachelor by the name of Shoto Nobuyuki. The last of his family line, one more pure lineage died off, forever lost to the vampire world, and the discovery began with the maid's distraught cries.
A Pureblood's death is also felt. Not one vampire within a mile would remain unaware that an apex predator has just died, it is written within the very structures of a vampire's being to know when one has gone. It may be within seconds, it may be within minutes, it may be within hours. But it is impossible to hide the death of this kind of vampire.
And so, once more, the vampire world slowly begins to fall into madness.
For it is nearly impossible to kill a Pureblood. Unless you are another of their kind, or a wielder of weapons meant to kill these creatures. And even so, a wielder of such weapons and having such skill and power as to kill the kings and queens of vampires has yet to be seen, and has not been seen for a thousand years. The vampire hunters, while containing and wielding the power to kill and hunt the line of vampires, have hardly ever competed with their kings and queens. In times of old such feats and battles are spoken of… But those battles have not been seen for thousands of years. Those are stories for other times, times when a silver-haired hunter with eyes like amethyst, burning with a flame borne of both love and hate, had walked side by side with the woman of the kind he hated the most. And many, many more times before that.
But let us not stray from the grim affair on hand. I must apologize if my earlier monologue may have bored you, but the words are necessary to paint the picture, to set up the stage for the play. A play with many actors who may or may not be aware of the great machinations of the world, for isn't the world a stage?
As it was, Shoto Noboyuki's death was not merely any death, even discounting that it was the death of such a creature. No, it was the death of the first act of this play, the death of a man who could have changed lives for the better.
With a smile like the warm and gentle sunlight, and words that touched both humans and vampires, he had been a man who had loved the world and all its creatures great and small. Noboyuki was supposed to have brought with him the winds of change, with his power not something to laugh at, but his love for the world a greater weapon yet. He was a man… That was more than just a Pureblood, and more than just a man, and the world loved him back.
His victory in the current turning of the century was supposed to bring new hope and peace to the uneasily stirring old prejudices and anger between the hunters and the vampires. Noboyuki talked to the hunters and respected their thoughts… Respected their laws, but also believed in compromise. A compromise that the hunters would have eventually been willing to achieve, in spite of the anger and suspicion that the last ruler's period brought.
And with his death, that door has just been closed.
Anger and suspicion are things that a hunter would associate with a vampire, no matter how much they insist they are past the old prejudices…
Suspicion and distrust are emotions that a Pureblood should know, as the only things that can best kill a Pureblood… Is another Pureblood.
And so with the improbability of a hunter killing the last Shoto, do you see the predicament the vampire world is in? For them to suspect their ruling families, to suspect these otherworldly and nigh-eternal kings and queens… And finally, to decide on what to do… They must choose where their loyalties lie.
That council of vampire elders, most old to have been in Yuuki Kuran's time, have seen similar events unfold before. And they are afraid of what is to come. Discontent and disagreement, rebellion and uprising are things they have dealt with before. But it has been so long, so long since a Pureblood has been murdered in such an unclear and improbable manner.
They are rushing, rushing to calm the frantic masses clamoring for justice for the death of their hero, rushing to discover who did such a crime. And through it all the selections must proceed. It is absolute. It is final. A new leader must still be found before the end of the year, even if the one most likely to have risen is now gone.
About to be caught up in it all are the youngest people of the newest generation. Children of their ambitious parents and tied to their duty by their blood, they have no choice but to participate.
But I will, no, I must make sure that the happenings of yesterday will not happen today. These children must be guided by the right hands, and I shall do my best to keep them from falling to their parent's desires.
It is only right to do so when they have so unjustly been molded by their families.
And I am doing this as the last of Kaien Cross's line. I must not fail. How ironic that I must let myself be as what he has been, yet it falls to me. I must remember and I must not forget what has happened in the past.
In little more than two months, Kaien's legacy will once again open its doors, after eight hundred years.
And I am its Headmaster.
[BCOLOR=transparent]The Shirabuki Estate[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]April 18, 1000[/BCOLOR]
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"I think you need to adjust the shading, it looks a little strange, but overall it looks as nice as your usual work…" The girl's voice trailed off as she blinked down at the painting, done in oil on a wide canvas. She was standing behind a young man seated on a short round stool, peering over his shoulder at the artwork. It was only just then that she had realized that there was a servant, his face taut with apprehension, standing twenty paces away from where she and her brother were situated at.[/BCOLOR]
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"Shirabuki-sama wishes to see the both of you," the young Common vampire said, his eyes cast down and bowing at the head of the family's two children. "He is waiting for you in the study." His voice was calm and collected, but the twins both knew that hidden behind that mask was fear. Fear for his life, if he had an idea of what they could do. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Soft cerise eyes widened in surprise, shock lighting up the girl's features for a moment before it cleared. "He wants to…?" The younger twin sounded confused, her hand falling from her brother's shoulder to hide and bury into the skirt of her robes. She blinked in confusion for a moment, looking away before turning to the servant with a wide smile. In all honesty, Masaru was still confused as to why their father was calling, but she hadn't seen him since that one time last month. "We'll be there soon, please tell him that!" She bowed her head slightly to the common vampire, uncaring of her station. There was an eagerness now, creeping into her tone and brightening her pale and luminous face. [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]What could it be now?[/BCOLOR]
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The blond young man stood up, sighing softly as he placed down his brush. "Let's go then, Masaru. Perhaps I won't frame this one." He pointed at the painting, taking it off the easel and setting it on a table where the sun would shine on it in the mornings, allowing it to dry. "We must not keep Father waiting." Kin had an idea of what this was about. Though he and his father did not go along well, as his heir Kin was told things long before Masaru. Sometimes they wouldn't want to tell Masaru at all, keeping her in the dark with certain facts. He never understood why, because she was always his equal. Their father's study was tucked away in one of the darker places in their estate, away from the sun and anything bright. Just as his father liked it.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"Nii-san…" The girl peered up curiously, sidewards, at the unreadable profile of her sibling. "But your painting is really nice, you don't have to scrap it? I only thought the shading was strange, but it really [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]is [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]good." Now, Masaru knew that her brother's moods could change swiftly and unpredictably, but the air around him had once again made her feel strange. She was at a rather excitable mood, though, and despite not knowing what was troubling Kin, she skipped a little ahead of him before remembering to slow down. "It's been a month since I last saw Father, what do you think does he want to talk about? I think I've been doing fine with my studies. I listen to my tutors like always, and I've been behaving [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]really [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]well…" She tried to lighten the mood that had fallen over her brother, going for a sunny smile. It wasn't difficult, though glancing at Kin's face was like looking into an impassive mirror at times. Looking downwards, she reached out and tugged on his hand. "And you're as amazing as always, so I think this might go well?" Speaking with honesty as always, Masaru would have hugged him if they had the time. She did look up to him the most.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"You can keep it if you want," Kin said. "I know you like to keep some in your room." The blond man looked away from the petite form of the girl, peering down the dark hallway that lead to their father's study. It was a place he dreaded to be in but found himself in very often. It saddened Kin to see his little sister so eager to see such a [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]monster[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]. "I am sure you are not going to be punished. Even if you were, I won't let Father hurt you." He reached out to ruffle her hair. Away from their father's prying eyes, he was was as carefree and as 'normal' as he wanted to be. Masaru's eyes bore into her brother's face for a few seconds, holding her gaze before she lowered it to the floor. She laughed a little as she felt his fingers land on top of her hair, ruffling the white-blonde locks. Reaching up she swatted at his hand, before she stopped as they ended up in front of those big wooden doors. "I'll definitely keep it. I keep all your paintings, no matter how bad you think they look they're all wonderful."[/BCOLOR]
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There was a small smile on his lips "I believe we received invitations to some school for both humans and vampires- ah, here we are." Standing before them were the polished and gleaming doors of their father's study. His disposition suddenly changed from a friendly older brother to the colder and more serious heir of the family. It was for the sake of everyone in the family.[/BCOLOR]
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"A school for vampires and humans? Really? I've never heard of such a place." The two stood in front of the door, one trying to keep his thoughts hidden and preparing himself, one wondering at what this was all about. The two twins shared similar feelings of trepidation, as they always did when it came to their father. [/BCOLOR]
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She tugged more insistently at his hand, before finally winding her fingers through his. Masaru took a deep breath and smiled warmly, waiting for the man behind those doors to call them in. "I'm a little nervous," she mumbled under her breath. "Please let me hold your hand." Her voice was smaller, almost inaudible despite her smile. Being around the man she called 'father', she always was a little quieter and meeker. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]He glanced at her, blinking down at Masaru with a calm expression. "Just the fingers," he said in a hushed voice, looping his fingers through hers, just enough for him to pull away if necessary. Was it a good idea to show this sort of affection for each other in front of a man like that? "Come in," a voice sounded from beyond the door. Deep and intimidating, someone who was used to ordering others around. Perhaps even someone who used to have [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]emotions[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent] and [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]feelings[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]. Taking a deep breath, Kin gently pushed on the door to enter.[/BCOLOR]
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The doors swung open from the young man's push, revealing a spacious study. Tall bookcases lined the walls along with different paintings and fixtures of lamps attached to holders, yet unlit. At the opposite end of the entrance, casting a shadow from the lone light in the room, was the wide and heavy oak desk of the father. Behind it he sat, in his tall and roomy armchair, his golden eyes affixed to his two children. His lips curved up in a mimicry of a smile. "I am glad to see you two are well, especially my… Lovely daughter." Masaru stiffened slightly under his smile, before returning it with a shy, timid one. "Do come in and take your seats, Kin-chan, Masaru-chan… We have much to discuss." His gaze lingered for a second on the siblings' hands.[/BCOLOR]
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"It seems you two have the honor of attending this school… this Cross Institute." That fake smile of his widened as he brandished two letters, sealed with wax with a rose motif stamped onto it. "I hear it is a place for the privileged. Consider yourselves lucky, Kin-chan, Masaru-chan, since I have paid so much for you two to be tutored." [/BCOLOR]
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The young boy nodded, dipping at the waist to greet his father. "Yes, father. It would be an honor to attend Cross Institute." He glanced at the letter in the man's hands, the scarlet red wax stamp and the paper that held the future of their education. They had been homeschooled since young, never allowed outside as most other Pureblood heirs. Kin's eyes shifted to Masaru's face, especially not her. "It will offer more opportunities to broaden our skills. Yes?"[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"W-what - Really?" Masaru stuttered out after her brother, in a much less graceful manner. Her speech still tended to suffer from minor hitches whenever she got surprised, and this was one of [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]the [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]larger shocks the girl had in this year. She looked from her father's face to her brother's, wonder and disbelief openly shown on her features. "B-but, a-a-about my… [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]condition,[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]" her cheeks flushed red out of shame and she slid her eyes away from Kin's. "Wouldn't that make it impossible, Father?" While she had officially made her entrance at thirteen, she hardly ever appeared in Pureblood gatherings aside from being her brother's companion. Hardly anyone knew anything about her aside from the obvious. But she could allow herself to hope against the odds. "I haven't accidentally hurt anyone in a while, maybe…"[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"Precisely why you will be attending most of your classes with your brother, Masaru-chan. He can keep an eye on you… in case of incidents." The white-haired man smiled a cruel smile. "But I expect you to have a [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]decent grasp[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent] on your gift. After all, it is very special. [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]You [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]are special, my daughter. One of a kind." A low raspy voice with an amused tone filled the room, the head of the Shirabuki family gazing into the young girl with glimmering eyes. Kin stiffened. Masaru may mistaken it to be love - false love - but he knew it to be ambition. Slowly raising her up to be what [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]he [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]wanted, not what she wanted to be herself.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]It was more than she could ever have hoped for, and Masaru's grip on her brother's fingers tightened almost uncomfortably. "Yes! Yes, of course Father, I will do my best. I swear I've gotten better at controlling it, Kin-niisan could tell you about it!" She bowed low, lower than her brother had bowed to the head of the family. It was probably too much of a display, but she knew to display gratitude when he was being kind to her. "I won't disappoint you," she murmured, more of a promise to herself as she dared raise her eyes to meet her father's. She smiled shakily. "Really." But she was actually terrified about this, though she would never show it. [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]Look at the positives! You get to go outside more...[/BCOLOR]
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"I know that. And of course," golden eyes bore into Kin's face now, the glint remaining. "Kin-chan will also do me proud, as he always has. Look to him as an example of what a proper Shirabuki should be, Masaru-chan… You do have quite a ways to go."[/BCOLOR]
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Masaru nodded now, looking away from her father to follow his gaze into Kin's face. Her brother was perfect in the eyes of the rest of their family. The heir that could do nothing wrong, with a powerful gift that could help instead of harm others. Sometimes she really did wish she had gotten a similar power instead… [/BCOLOR]
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Their father chuckled lowly. "Very well, I am pleased to see that both of you are eager for this. You will be attending the school in June. I must apologize but I cannot make it to your opening orientation, my children. My work calls me to attend a meeting on that day." His smile disappeared slowly. "I really do expect both of you to perform as I expect. Do not bring shame on the Shirabuki family. You are dismissed."[/BCOLOR]
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Kin relished the moments where he was dismissed. The satisfying turn away from his father and the creak of the door and seeing the moonlight shine out of the windows down the hall, so different from the murky darkness of his father's study. He closed the door behind him, his hands grasping tightly around Masaru's own as he walked down the hallway, shoes tapping against the marble floor. [/BCOLOR]
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"We really are going to this school, nii-san," Masaru murmured, to fill in the silence as they walked. She stuck closer to her brother, she never did like the darker corridors of the estate. While she should have been used to it, she rather hated it though she never would tell others that. "Aren't you glad?" She questioned him, eyes puzzled as she glanced at his face. After leaving the room she felt she could breathe easier, a smile once again lighting her face up. "We get to attend a school, nii-san, we get to talk to a lot of other people and try new classes! I know you're getting bored of your tutors and reading ahead of your lessons, maybe this will help you find other stuff you like!" After that, she squeezed his hand, urging him to talk. It wasn't nice to see him like this.[/BCOLOR]
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He squeeze her hand back in response, smiling down at her now that he felt more comfortable. "I suppose I am, since we both get to be in the same class now." They were both tutored separately in their own quarters, allowed to see each other only during their short breaks. Even so, all she saw was his colder personality. The personality he had on for anyone except his own little sister. "I hope you will have fun at least… and you've always been nagging me to try something new. Maybe this is my chance." The heir of the Shirabuki family glanced out the window. He truly had no idea what this place was all about, what it was like and how the environment would be different. But looking behind him, in the direction of his father, he knew that it would be a much better place for him and Masaru. "Come on, Masaru-chan. Let's go back to our paintings."[/BCOLOR]
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Masaru laughed lightly, grabbing her brother's hand tighter as she started to race down the hall. She remembered his painting now, and looking over her shoulder she grinned at him. "Let's! I want to see you finish that painting so I can frame it and put it in a place of honor in my room~" His hand felt closer now, and she pulled him away from that place of darkness into their painting room, filled with lots of light and the bright paintings the siblings did. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Left behind in the study, Yoshiaki Shirabuki's smile was like the edge of a knife, sharp and predatory. "Kin-chan, this is only the beginning." He really did expect a lot of good things to come out of this deal, this agreement to leave his children in the hands of that [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]hunter[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]. Kazuki Cross was too young to have a chance of actually countering a Pureblood as old as him. Besides, did the hunter really think he was so foolish as to repeat his relative's mistake in the past? The rules of the game had changed, and the ones who survived it were the ones who knew how to adapt. [/BCOLOR]
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[BCOLOR=transparent]Outside in the dimly lit halls where only the moonlight gave light to the place, a flock of ravens flapped their wings and left their perches, dark feathers the only remains that fluttered from among the glowing pink blossoms of the branches of the cherry tree in the courtyard. [/BCOLOR][/BCOLOR]
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[BCOLOR=transparent][BCOLOR=transparent]Cross Institute[/BCOLOR][/BCOLOR]
June 10, 1000
"Welcome to the Cross Institute, my dear students." By now, everyone knew of the school that was situated in the middle of quiet emerald forests. Cross Institute, formerly known as Cross Academy, a private boarding school for vampires and humans. Co-education that was one of a kind, rebuilt and reopened by Kazuki Cross, a relative of Kaien Cross. The Day Class for humans, the Night Class for vampires. And classes in the evening for both species to become accustomed to one another. In a world where vampires and humans know of each other's worlds, they were to learn to live together under the wishes of Yuki Kuran.
It was a beautiful castle like school, three stories high but wide and grand. Pale bricks and pointed windows made up the building, and the iron gates were decorated with rose motifs forged with care and precision. A set of grand wooden doors stood at the entrance, bearing the symbol of Cross Institute, unchanged from its original design, welcoming all students who would attend such elite education. The castle like structure wrapped itself around a peaceful garden, filled with beautiful plants and flowers. There, the path behind the school would diverge into two paths, leading up to the dorm gates that were guarded day and night, twenty four-seven by the Guardians of the school to prevent humans from walking into the dens of vampires and vampires waltzing into the homes of humans. A large private lake stood between the Moon and the Sun Dorms, their teachers lived not too far away beside their respective species' dorm. Cross Institute was truly a breathtaking place to learn in.
Standing before the great wooden doors to the school was a tall blond man with piercing blue eyes. He wore a tight suit, smoothed out white business shirt buttoned right up to the collar and a onyx black vest on top. Hanging from his breast pocket was the chain of a pocket watch, which he held in his hand. A monocle winked down at the gathering of students, all chattering and giggling among each others as they waited for the principal's address.
The sun had already been in the sky for many hours. Soon it would be sunset, the light falling into a gentle orange. Despite the goal of cohabitation, it was clear that one section of the courtyard was filled with humans, while the other side stood crowds of vampires of all levels, hiding underneath parasols to keep their sensitive skin away from the harsh rays of the sun. Their mortal counterparts gawked at their beauty, whispered and pointed, but the vampires paid them no heed.
Kazuki sighed inaudibly, things will not simply change in a fortnight. The amount of students both old and new were many, but the courtyard was clearly big enough to support everyone. There was nothing to block their way, evergreen trees stood to attention on the sides of the path, creating a green wall that shielded them from prying eyes. Even further ahead were the iron bar gates that were locked shut to prevent strangers from walking into the school.
"Good evening to all of you. Cross Institute welcomes all our new students. And we say 'welcome back' to our old students! A new year of education is waiting for you!" He smiled politely at the crowd of students, his blue eyes calm yet shining with an almost pleased light. "I am Kazuki Cross, the headmaster of this school. Nothing brings me more joy than to see new faces. This school was founded on my relatives' belief that humans and vampires were able to live together and learn together, to see each other as equals. We strive to continue this goal, and thus all of you..." the tall man waved his hand over the crowd. "Will do just that. Hopefully you will all be able to get along and become close like good friends."
Polite clapping soon filled the courtyard, the students glancing askance at each other after the Headmaster's short speech. They were all mostly children of the elite of society, from children of politicians and wealthy business owners, to top students and star athletes. And of course, not to forget, the famed Night Class. Once again coming up after hundreds of years, the children of vampire lords have agreed to let their children study and mingle with humans. Only now, Kazuki intended to actually make them interact and befriend each other. The school would need to be united as a whole.
Prequel: Embers
