Vampire Knight Fan Fiction ❯ Entwined ❯ Obligation ( Chapter 2 )

Entwined

Obligation

Disclaimer: I do not own nor profit from any of the ideas, characters, names, etc that I have used from Vampire Knight. Original characters are all mine of course.

A/N: I must apologise. I was rude the past two chapters and forgot to thank centauri2002 for proof-reading them. My poor sieve brain. So, thank you very much! Also, thanks to the people who have reviewed so far, it always makes my day when I see a new review. *grins happily*

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Arlena Lowe drummed her elegant fingers on the piece of paper that was sitting upon her writing desk. The vacant expression that had settled on her face for some minutes now suddenly gave way to a frown, and her gaze dropped to the piece of paper. She re-read the message she had written a short while ago. Her frown deepened.

She pushed the chair she was sat on away from the desk and relaxed into it, letting out a long, frustrated sigh. Why must I inform him of what happened here? Yes, it is my obligation, due to our alliance, but really... what he doesn't know won't hurt him... will it? Her expression soured even further at that thought. She was being rather naïve to think that her powerful ally would not find out about the little skirmish on her turf, in her own safe-house. However, she didn't want to share the intriguing young vampire that had stumbled recklessly into her territory, just yet. Not until she had managed to glean all the information she could from him, and sate her curiosity.

Still, risking the wrath of such a powerful vampire for the sake of mere inquisitiveness was just as reckless as storming a building full of vampires solo. Not only was she concerned with her own well-being. She was responsible for all the vampires within her territory. Her presence here ensured their safety from rival houses, and in-turn, the more lower-level vampires that came to her for protection, the greater her standing within the vampire society.

No, she hadn't lived through centuries to be so foolish now. Her lineage demanded more of her. She was a pureblood. She would use the knowledge and wisdom she had collected through her many years of life to rework this situation to her advantage, while appearing to be completely loyal and subservient to her stronger ally.

Arlena smiled. She could feel pieces of the puzzle falling into place already.

Her mood brightened, she pushed herself up out of the chair and took the sheet of paper from the desk. Folding it neatly and slipping it into an envelope, she began to walk briskly towards the single door that led out of her small, but cosy office. Yes, I know just the courier to get this safely to Kaname Kuran.

* * *

Zero groaned as he tried to open his eyes. His jaw ached incessantly, and it took him a moment to remember just what had caused it. As the memories flooded back to him, he urged his body to a more alert state.

He realised he was half-sat, half-lying against a stone wall. The room was pitch black and, as his eyes slowly adjusted to the dimness, he saw it was small. Very small. A dungeon? How cliché. The cramped space was void of any furnishings, just four walls, a floor and a ceiling. He couldn't even make out a door in the gloom.

As he regained his senses, Zero suddenly became aware that he couldn't move his arms, that they were pinned above him. He lifted his head, trying to make out what was binding his wrists. It was definitely cool metal that was pressing against his skin, and he could see the faint outline of manacles in the darkness. Great, so I'm chained to a wall in a dungeon...

Using the chains as support, Zero pulled himself to a more comfortable sitting position. Testing the strength of his shackles, he pulled on them forcefully. They didn't budge, only resulting in bruising his wrists. Zero groaned. Looks like I'm stuck here, for now at least...

He wasn't happy at that prospect. He had truly expected to die during the fight, if his enemies had proven too powerful, which they clearly had. In some ways, Zero had wanted that outcome, had yearned for it. To finally be rid of the raging conflict within him.

His own weakness sickened him. He knew he should be stronger than this. He had to fight through the pain, the confusion, to find a better way. Yet, he had been wrestling with these primal feelings for so long, he had been worn down, his defences eroded. His desire for blood had been steadily increasing. He had managed to stave it off; eventually secluding himself away from humans; so not to risk biting one of them should the bloodlust take him. He just wanted it all to end, and the only path his weary mind had seen through the haze of uncertainty was to kill every last one of the beasts, or be killed himself.

So, now he was here, unexpectedly captured by the pureblood who had defeated him. He hadn't anticipated one of them to be in a run-down area like this. His knowledge of vampire hierarchy and society was sorely lacking, he knew, but from past experiences with purebloods, they had come across as arrogant, self-centred, and considered themselves higher beings. So why would one `put up' with living somewhere like this? It was beyond his comprehension. Their minds worked in devious, conniving ways that he simply did not, nor wanted to, understand.

Zero tried to remember back to the brief conversation that had transpired before he was knocked unconscious, attempting to discern the reason the red-haired pureblood had kept him alive. From her words, it was fairly obvious that she didn't know who he was. That didn't exactly bode well for Zero. Perhaps she had kept him alive to find out his identity, and he couldn't imagine the pureblood simply asking him nicely.

Zero rested his head against the cool stone of the wall. Just what had he gotten himself in to?

* * *

Arlena's anger was very evident. Her aura had taken on a much darker quality, dipping the temperature of the corridor into an uncomfortable iciness. The vampire that stood before her was virtually trembling as he tried desperately to avoid contact with her narrowed, crimson-hued eyes.

“I gave express orders that no-one was to enter here.” The words were hissed out through Arlena's clenched teeth.

The cowering vampire did not respond, only fuelling the pureblood's ire. She continued, managing to somewhat control the amount of anger that seeped into her voice. “Then why are you here?”

The lower level vampire took a deep, shaky breath, and summoned the courage to meet the pureblood's gaze.

“Forgive me, Ms. Lowe, but I wasn't informed of your orders.” The expression on the vampire's face was pleading, as he obviously realised how meek his excuse sounded.

A deep growl emanated from the back of Arlena's throat and she surged forward, backhanding the other vampire across his face. He crumpled to the floor at the sheer force of the impact.

“Get out of my sight,” she snarled at him, before turning away, expecting him to do as he was told.

She heard her subordinate scramble up from his prone position and rush away down the corridor. As the sound of the double doors slamming shut told Arlena that she was now alone in the corridor, she attempted to calm her raging temper. It would not be very practical to visit her `guest' whilst irritated, just to tear him apart before getting any answers from him. She knew she would need great patience with the silver-haired vampire. His lack of fear and his excess of defiance were not a good combination for an efficient interrogation.

As Arlena's anger simmered down to a point where it was well under control, she reflected that she may have been a bit harsh on her underling. The order she had given to keep everyone well away from the vampire was fed, to some extent, by selfishness. She wanted him all to herself. It was very rare for a pureblood to interrogate their prisoners themselves, and she knew her subordinates would be questioning her reasons for insisting upon it this time. She didn't really care though. She would let them speculate. It wasn't as if they would rise against her because of one strange decision.

Arlena returned her attention to the corridor ahead of her. She walked briskly along it until she reached another set of double doors. Pushing them open, she slipped past and flicked the lock, securing the doors so no-one else could enter.

Turning around, she saw several doors leading off the short corridor ahead of her. She walked immediately to the far end of the passage and ran her hand over smooth metal. Behind this door was her `guest'. If he was awake, he would know she was here. She increased the presence of her aura, just to make certain of it. Oh, I'm going to enjoy this.

She slid her hand across to a panel on the wall, beside the door, where she punched in a combination on the number pad. An electronic beep resounded through the corridor as the mechanism accepted the code, and the door slid open with a grating sound.

Arlena smoothed the material of her rather conservative top, followed by her trousers, before looking into the small cell before her. She saw the other vampire's form sat against the wall, arms hanging limply from the chains. She took a step into the room, and the door slid shut behind her, plunging the room into darkness. Her hand came up and flicked a switch next to the closed door. A moment later and lights flickered on in the ceiling, bathing the two occupants in soft luminescence.

Arlena peered down at the other vampire. His eyes were closed.

“Still sleeping?” she whispered softly as she took a step forward.

Arlena cocked her head to one side as she observed the silver-haired vampire's shallow breathing. She concentrated her senses towards her target, detecting his pulse. It was quite rapid. Too rapid for him to be still unconscious. A smile played on her lips.

Arlena crouched in front of the other vampire, just out of range of his legs. She scanned his face. He looked almost peaceful, his features relaxed in mock slumber. She leaned forward slightly, resting her forearms on her thighs.

“Wake up, sleeping beauty.” Her voice was silky smooth.

The lower level vampire didn't stir or make any sign that he had heard her. Arlena frowned. Her patience hadn't yet fully recovered from her earlier encounter with the insubordinate underling. She didn't have the inclination to play this game with the vampire.

“I am fully aware that you are neither unconscious nor asleep. You can stop feigning.” Her voice held an ever so slight hard edge to it.

She heard an irregularity in the other vampire's shallow, steady breathing, as if his breath had caught momentarily in his throat. Slowly, his eyes slid open, those amethyst orbs staring directly at her. Arlena allowed a smile to return to her lips.

“There. That wasn't so difficult, was it?” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Remaining crouched before the captive vampire, she held his gaze, observing his body language, trying to garner as much about him as she could before moving onto more intrusive methods.

The silver-haired vampire showed no outwards sign of fear or uncertainty, though Arlena could hear his accelerated heartbeat. So, he has good control over those emotions. She broke eye contact and allowed her gaze to drop slowly over the other vampire's body, taking in every feature. She had wanted her subordinates to have as little contact with him as possible, so she had told them to make sure he was secured in the shackles here, and to leave him immediately. Because of this, he was still fully clothed, and as her eyes passed over his body, she took in the details of his black leather jacket, dark shirt, and dark blue jeans. They weren't especially tight on the vampire, allowing sufficient movement, but they did accentuate his form quite nicely.

The quiet sound of shifting metal links brought Arlena's attention back up. The other vampire had clenched his fists. Ah, so not so controlled with emotions such as anger...

She smirked at him. “Something wrong?”

The silver-haired vampire simply glared at her in response. She was beginning to think that was a permanent expression he wore. She sighed slightly.

“Well then, as you don't seem interested in pleasantries. Shall we get down to business?”

The other vampire grunted. “Do your worst.”

Arlena chuckled softly. “I highly doubt you would really want me to do that.”

An expression of what could possibly have been frustration passed across the captive vampire's face. “Just get it over with. Stop toying with me.”

Arlena let out a dramatically exaggerated sigh. “Ah, very well then. As you wish.”

The pureblood released her aura, allowing it to expand, to encompass the room, causing the atmosphere to become oppressive. Concentrating on the vampire in front of her, she focused her will, bending his spirit to her command, forcing his body to be still and unresponsive. In the first few moments, Arlena struggled to maintain control. This lower level vampire did indeed have a great deal of resolve, determination and strength of mind, but he could not hope to hold out against the power of a pureblood, and eventually she dominated him. As she felt his mental struggling subside, the vampire before her gasped and his head jerked back, connecting with the stone wall.

Arlena shuffled forward, moving to his side, still in her crouched position. She lifted his head away from the wall, smoothing the hair at the back with her fingers, checking for any damage. “You shouldn't struggle against the inevitable so much. You'll just end up hurting yourself.”

Arlena's senses tingled as the scent of fresh blood drifted into the air. She pulled her fingers away from the other vampire's head and saw smeared crimson. Her body reacted instinctively at the sight of the blood, her fangs extending slightly, her chest tightening. She moved her hand, so the other vampire could see the blood.

“See what you've done? Tempting me so...” She slipped a finger into her mouth, licking the blood from it.

Her eyes widened slightly. This vampire's blood tasted surprisingly good. She wouldn't have expected that from such a low level, ex-human. She slid the finger from her mouth, and with a sudden motion, grasped the other vampire's jaw, tilting his head to the side, away from her, exposing fully the smooth skin of his neck.

Arlena relinquished a small amount of control over the other vampire, allowing him the use of his vocal chords, his facial muscles. She wanted to savour this moment, to its full extent.

She realised his breathing was rapid, ragged. Now he was showing his fear. She smiled as she dipped her head to his neck, her lips hovering just shy of his skin. She inhaled deeply. Even his scent was tantalising.

“Now... Are you going to tell me what I wish to know?” She breathed each word out deliberately slowly, watching the slight involuntary shudders of his skin.

Her fangs were now fully extended, and she could feel the blood lust pulling at her, demanding she sink her teeth into the exposed skin below her. She fought the urge, waiting for the other vampire's response.

The only sound in the cell was the captive vampire's harsh, irregular breathing. Arlena sighed inwardly. It seemed he needed more persuasion.

With one hand still grasping the silver-haired vampire's jaw, she slid her other hand to the collar of his jacket and shirt, and pulled the material up his shoulder, revealing more of the tempting flesh. She dropped her lips to his skin, flicking her tongue along his neck in long, purposeful strokes.

A low, strangled cry emanated from the other vampire's throat, causing the pureblood to pull her head up and look at him. She raised an eyebrow expectantly.

The captive vampire's voice was low, hoarse, but audible. “What... do you want to know?”

“Let's start with who you are. Your name?” she smiled at him, and turned his head to face hers.

His eyes betrayed the deep-seated emotions he was clearly feeling. Fear was definitely one of them, but there was something else, something Arlena couldn't quite place. He looked at her, unblinking, for many moments, before finally opening his mouth to speak.

“My name is... Zero Kiryu.”

“Zero Kiryu,” Arlena echoed. “Kiryu... that sounds familiar...”

The pureblood tried to recall where she had heard the name before, but it refused to come to her. She frowned a little, but shrugged the thought off for later deliberation.

“Alright Mr. Kiryu, or may I call you Zero? Yes, I think that's more appropriate.” She smirked at him. “Zero, why did you come here? Who sent you?”

The silver-haired vampire narrowed his eyes. “I have already told you my reasons for coming here. No-one sent me.”

The smirk faded from the pureblood's face. “You really expect me to believe you waltzed into my safe house purely because you wanted to kill some of your kin, for no apparent reason, of your own volition?”

Zero sneered at her. “I don't care what you believe. You wanted answers. I'm giving them to you.”

Arlena's grip tightened on the other vampire's jaw. She could feel her anger bubbling up to the surface once more at this incorrigible vampire's attitude.

With one sudden, smooth movement, she released the silver-haired vampire from her grip, stood, and took a step away from him.

“I shall leave you for a while to let you think over what almost happened here. Perhaps you shall be more forthcoming when I return. If not, I shall finish what I started.” With those words, she turned, opened the door, and left the cell.

As the door slid shut, she released her control over Zero and heard him slump against the wall. His disrespectful manner grated on her nerves. Still, she was sure he would see the error of his ways, and if not, she would have the pleasure of drinking from him.

* * *

Zero breathed a sigh of relief as he felt control come back to him. The sensation of being trapped within your own body, being unable to do anything to stop what was happening around you was not a pleasant one. It wasn't the first time it had happened to him, but it was just as frightening.

Zero cursed himself for being so weak. He had succumbed to the pureblood's tactics so easily. Yet, he could not help the overwhelming emotions that had built up within him at the thought of her fangs being driven into his neck. He shuddered involuntarily. Next time, he wouldn't yield. He would be stronger. Next time...

His head sagged. It was useless. He knew he would probably react the same way. Be reduced to a whimpering mess. There was absolutely nothing he could do about it, either.

Zero glanced up, eyeing the doorway he knew would open far too soon for his liking. He had to do something, anything, to prevent showing that kind of weakness again.

* * *

Takuma Ichijo strode through the large foyer area with a purposeful gait. He headed directly for the long, curved staircase that led to the first floor. He peered down at the envelope in his hand, wondering briefly what message it could contain. Not that it was really any business of his, the letter was addressed to Kaname Kuran after all, but the urgency the courier hinted at couldn't help but peak his curiosity.

Takuma turned right at the top of the stairs, heading down a long, elegantly designed hallway, the walls decorated sporadically with paintings and tapestries. A short way along the hall, he turned down a side corridor and proceeded to the end, where he stopped before a sturdy wooden door. He paused for a moment, wondering if he should disturb the pureblood. It was still daylight outside, and usually he would still be sleeping. He absently brushed a stray blonde hair away from his face as he tried to reach a decision. No, Kaname wouldn't mind being disturbed if the matter were urgent.

Takuma knocked lightly on the door and waited for a response from within. A minute later, a groggy sounding voice drifted through the wooden barrier. “Yes?”

The blonde-haired vampire opened the door, and stepped inside. His gaze searched around the room for a moment before finding the pureblood. He was sat on the edge of the large double bed, dressed in a blue nightrobe.

“Excuse me for the intrusion, Kaname, but this message just arrived for you, and it seemed rather urgent.” He smiled apologetically.

Kaname looked at the blonde blankly for a few moments, as if not registering what he had just said. After a moment, he reached his hand out for the envelope. Takuma walked hurriedly over to the pureblood and passed it to him.

“Thank you, Takuma.” The brown-haired vampire's voice, though still slightly groggy, was hard-edged.

Takuma watched Kaname as he slid the paper out of the envelope and began to read. His long, brown hair was dishevelled from sleep and his graceful features were formed into his ever-present stoicism. The blonde noticed a frown pass across the pureblood's face for a moment, before reverting back to normal.

“Is there something wrong?” he asked gently.

Kaname glanced up at the blonde. “No.”

The pureblood slipped the letter back into the envelope and tucked it inside his robe.

“Please inform my driver that I will be taking a trip.” He paused, meeting Takuma's concerned gaze. “Alone.”

The blonde nodded slowly, mulling over the finality of that last word. “Yes, Kaname,” he said at length, before turning to leave.

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Note: So, there we have it. Hope you're not too disappointed with where I'm taking things. *winks* I realise the other characters are coming into the story at a rather slow pace, but the wait will be worth it, I assure you!