As I looked outside the window of our very own room, I could hear the wind singing while the tree branches tapped lightly at the glass.  I glanced at Rido who sat down elegantly in his sofa chair.  One leg crossed over the other leg, his book was open and his finger trailed the words. Not too far from him was mama's painting.

My lips stretched across my face.  Every night we should be in this room, just the three of us.

But sometimes, I felt like I wanted more.

I averted my attention to the glass, my hand pressed against the cool surface.  I leaned my forehead against it, my breath fogged the cool window pane.  Such a little thing, the fogging of the glass, fascinated me because the air I exhaled was warm.  Almost human.

It was strange.  Very weird.  We looked like them.  Dressed like them.  Acted like them... the humans.  But we would never consider ourselves to such inferior beings.

Everything was ironic really.

Rido said it was about disguising ourselves to fit in a society that was overrun by them.  They didn't know our existence and if they did, we hunted them, killed them and every single person they loved or came into contact with them.

The vampire self- the part that was dominant, accepted his explanation.

The other part- a small part that remembered being human thought it was vile.

Nonetheless, like all other things, I blinked my eyes and welcomed it. Information in this world was my power. Not feelings. 

According to Uncle Ejin, purebloods were not allowed to feel, at least not openly.  We had to be wary over whom to trust.  Kin was our closest and safest to love.  But in father's case, his family betrayed us.  And they in return viewed him picking mama and me as backstabbing them.

My hand closed into a fist and I lightly tapped the window, or I thought I did.  Instantly, a web of lines formed where my hand was and a crack disturbed the silence.

Rido lifted his head, his mismatched eyes falling to the noise.  I watched, then blinked my eyes -the ones that mirrored his- to cover my astonishment.  I was still a little girl but to have that much power... could it be possible?

He didn't shout.  He never had to.

No, his heterochromia eyes flickered to me, a small smile twisting on his handsome face -not one of his cruel ones, but his soft one.

Then I felt it, the air brushed around me like butterfly wings. My eyes drifted shut.  Rido's presence surrounded me.  The gentleness.  The feelings of safeness and love filled me and then it vanished.  I opened my eyes to see him go back to reading.  I turned my head to the window to see the glass looked brand new.  Again, I blinked.  My fingers slightly touched the glass where the damage had been earlier.

I heard a thump.  I glanced at Rido.  His colorful eyes glittered as he carelessly tossed the book onto the couch.  "Were you thinking of something unpleasant my sweet Kyyra?"

I could shake my head.  It sounded tempting but father had a way he could read my expressions better than anyone else.

So I settled with glimpsing the window and hearing how the wind kept on singing outside while the tree branches danced around.  The night was truly beautiful.

"Why don't we go outside?"  My childish voice broke the quietness.

He lifted a dark eyebrow.  "You mean why don't you go outside?"

I nodded my head.

"For safety reasons."

"But aren't we purebloods?"

"We are but it doesn't mean we are secure.  There are other creatures that hunt us because they want our blood."

I turned my head fully to him.  Tilting it to the side I continued to watch him.

"Level E Vampires or mindless beasts."  They were the creatures that he thought were beneath us. They were the lowest rank in the pyramid that displayed the hierarchy of vampires.  "The moment they get a drop of our blood, they become truly unstoppable."

I had to wonder if that would happened to Zero had he completely fallen to Level E, especially with Yuki's blood flowing in him.

"Their instincts take over and they are driven by desperation, greed, and hunger.  Combine those three and you can see why we need to be protected at all costs, or in this matter, you."

"Me?"

He fluidly stood up from the couch and slowly moved to me, as if not to startle me.  He lowered himself to his knees and still being on his knees, I had to tilt my head up at him.  His big hands cradled my face.

"You are not strong enough to go outside on your own."

No, I wasn't strong enough like him or Kaname.  At least not yet.

"Which is why I keep you here where I and Ejin-kun can protect you. Do you now understand, honey?"

"Yes daddy," I whispered.  He leaned in to softly kiss my forehead before letting me go and retreated to his space.

I understood clearly.  I still had a long way to go, in pureblood power, before I could walk around without any barriers.  Until then, I could be up and about within the walls of the Toma estate.

OoO

There was a way in which my father moved.  The moment he entered a room, he could bring anything to life.  He just made the whole place sparkle.

The maids would bow deeply to him, never making eye contact with him.

Even Ejin would walk a few paces behind him.

Yes, Rido had the unnatural beauty and grace no one could touch, well, except mama.  She was the only person I could imagine walking at his side and equally measuring his worth.

He halted. Ejin stopped too.  My feet paused behind Ejin.

Did daddy forget something?

I was tempted to ask so I did what no other person dared to do.  I hurriedly rushed past Ejin to grab the pants' leg of daddy's.  I could feel all breaths freezing and the atmosphere tensing.

"Daddy?" I asked looking up at him with wide heterochromia eyes.

He was tall, very much so to the point my neck was straining.  His hands shifted at his sides.  One maid's finger twitched while her head was lowered.

The servants waited, fear breaking the surface. They feared for me.

I waited, just blinking at him -my daddy.

Then warm, strong arms encircled me and lifted me high up into the air.  I giggled as I wrapped my small arms around his thick neck.  "Let's go.  I have what I've been waiting for," his voice rumbled.

I giggled again, my childish glee filling the whole hallway.

Everyone sighed.  The intense mood evaporating­­­.

Rido was one of the strongest purebloods.  From the way he walked and others kept their distance, there was a clear display in hierarchy.  Perhaps his father and Kaname were the same in their family.  But one thing was for sure, I was the apple of his eye.

OoO

The room was extravagant and yet simple.  Mirrors adorned the walls on one side and the other side had tall elegant windows with red velvet, gold trimming curtains set aside.  The moonlight from outside filtered into the room, casting a heavenly glow on the marble floor.  The ceiling was covered in art of beautiful dancing figures.  A sparkling chandelier hung in the center of the room. By the window Ejin walked to a beautiful shiny black piano.

Daddy set me gently down on my feet.  His head rose, his glittery eyes taking in the stunning scene.

"Daddy, where are we?" I asked him while tilting my head.

"This special place is your mama's favorite room.  She loved this ballroom," he answered.  He looked lost in the moment, his handsome face glistening with memories.

"Really?"

"Yes, your mama loved to dance."

The more I heard I about her, the more I grew to love her.  She loved to dance like me.  In my first life, dancing was a way to get away from my parent's strict upbringing.  I learned ballet and put all my focus on it to forget the feelings of being unwanted.

"Why are we here, daddy?" My hand went to his pants' leg and I clutched the fabric.  It was a whispering move for him return to me.

Coming to himself, he glanced down at me.  "Kyyra."

"Are you okay?" I asked in a small voice.

He bent down and gathered me into his arms.  "I was remembering dancing the waltz with your mama.  She loved dancing with me."

"Huh, there you go getting your facts wrong," Ejin cut in.  He was sitting on the piano bench, his dark eyes studying us. 

We both turned to him but amusement flickered on Rido's face.  "You wish, Ejin-kun.  You were envious of the attention she gave me."

"She only gave you her attention because I was playing the piano," the other pureblood replied.

"We needed someone to play for us as you will do today because we need our sweet Kyyra to learn how to dance."

My eyes widened and excitement overtook me.  "Really?"  I laughed. "I will love to dance the waltz with you daddy."

"Not to be a party pooper but there's a problem," Ejin interrupted us.

"What is it?" Rido asked.  A hint of a smile flickered on his face.

"You're too tall."

"That doesn't matter."  All of a sudden I was lifted in the air and daddy swirled me around in circles.  My childish joy filled the whole room.

We stopped and he put me back down.  I couldn't stop giggling.  "Daddy, can we dance again?"

"Sure if Ejin-kun won't mind playing."

The other boyish pureblood simply shrugged his shoulder and his fingers began gliding across the piano.  I stood shocked as the beautiful melody filled my ears.  Daddy picked me up with ease, bringing me out of my daze. My arms circled his neck and he began to move with the music.

"Daddy, I'm not dancing!"

"You don't have to worry about moving your feet.  You're still too little."

I pouted while he laughed.

"That's not fair."

"The people will make an exception because you're my little girl."

His words made me feel better.  He always made me feel better.

We danced, or more like he danced, twirling me in circles around the room. I laughed merrily.  I couldn't remember having so much fun with him.  He seemed so light-hearted and carefree.  I wanted him to be happy always.

When the music stopped, he settled me on my feet.  I was still giddy from all my childish happiness.

Daddy was about to stand up when I put my hands on his cheeks to stop him. Looking into his colorful eyes, a part of me wished that I could freeze this moment.

"I love you daddy," I said to him.  "I love you and mama the most in this world."  His eyes widened and so many emotions filled them.  Joy.  Sadness. Regret.  "I love you both."  His eyes became filled with content.  And thank you for loving me for me.

Another figure joined us.  "What about me, my beloved little niece?"

I looked to Ejin and I fiercely shook my head.  "I only love mama and daddy."

His face turned sour.  I smiled while Rido's guffaw rumbled in the ballroom.

"Come, sweet Kyyra."  My father picked me  up and headed out of the grand room.  For a moment I was happy I could bring him joy.  Maybe if I could make more happy moments, he would choose to forget revenge.

Just maybe.

OoO

I was sleeping on the couch below mama's painting, or only pretending to shut my eyes. The early hours of dawn didn't make me tired like the other vampires in the Toma estate.  Perhaps purebloods were strong enough to endure sunlight hours unlike Level B and Level C vampires.

My fingers glided over the soft velvety pillow under my head when two figures walked into the room.  Their auras radiated around them causing my hand to still as I evened out my breathing.

"How is she?" I overheard Ejin asking.

"She's sleeping," Rido answered the other pureblood.  "Will you look after her for me?"

"You're returning to the Shiki residence, aren't you?"

"I'm doing what my father requested."

"But with the Shiki woman?  Isn't she...?"

"Which is my reason for picking her."

I felt intense eyes on me and for a second my heart stuttered at the prospect of my daddy seeing another woman.  I couldn't imagine him loving someone else.

"And our darling Kyyra, how will she react to the news?"

"She's the reason I'm doing all of this.  I already fucked up on the first attempt to protect her."

"You're not alone in this fight."

"I appreciate your help.  I really do but my lust for power backfired and now I need to make sure my daughter is well if something happens to me."

Ejin laughed out loud.  I wanted to open my eyes and yell at him.  "You're acting like you won't always be around."

"I won't," Rido confirmed.

Silence filled the air.  I forced a slow exhale through my nose while in the act of pretend sleeping. But the quietness was killing me.

"What are you hiding Rido-kun?"

I heard a long intake of breath as one of them sat down on a chair. "My first attempt at gaining power, I didn't do it for me.  The night I stole Juri-san and Haruka-san's baby from them, I sacrificed the baby to an ancestor."

"That's understandable," Ejin replied curtly.

Rido sighed in defeat.  "But the fucking plan backfired.  The ancestor drank my blood and greatly injured me.  Kyyra was the only thing that kept me alive."

"The power you wanted...."

"I sought power to control an ancestor.  With him as my servant, I would use him to protect our beloved Kyyra."

I forgot to breathe as my fingers twitched on the pillow.

"The plan failed.  There are other methods."

My father guffawed, not in merriment but in a dark humor.  "Which is my reason for seeking the Shiki woman and coming to you.  If the ancestor comes at us right now, I'll be the only survivor.  I need time to set everything in place."

There was another moment of silence.  I barely inhaled air while holding back a slight whimper and then I let out a shaky breath.

"The ancestor is alive?"

"Of course," Rido replied, his chuckle sinister.  "He's an ancient one, living in the form of a child with the Kuran family."

"Oh shit," Ejin muttered.

Dread filled the pit of my stomach.  "Oh shit doesn't cover half of it.  If the Kuran family have another child and it's a girl, then that ancestor's loyalty will be on their side."

And in the game of chess between two sides -the Kuran family and our side- we would definitely lose.  Because of Yuki.