The next morning was beautiful. The sun had barely started to rise over the horizon, making the sky purple with bits of pink and orange. The birds enjoyed their morning routine of singing.

My human-side must have been stronger, since getting out of bed at 5 AM was easy. I was running on roughly 3 hours of sleep, due to late night patrols and staying up late to do my human homework.

Part of me wondered what Kaname would have me work on today. The last lesson had led to me in a choke hold. My right hand lightly held my neck. How easy would it be for Kaname to break me? When I go to these classes am I playing a game of Russian Roulette?

I brushed these thoughts away and placed the three texts I was going through in my over the shoulder bag. Through the dim light of the window, I caught a glance of myself in the mirror. Since this wasn't official school business, I had decided to wear my normal clothes: black ripped jeans, a black Sleeping With Sirens shirt, and black combat boots. Yeah, I had next-to-no color in my closet. I pulled my waist-long stringy black hair back with a white scrunchie. There. There's my color. I slipped my phone into my back pocket and exited the room while Moka slept.

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For once, my trip to Kaname's room was interrupted. I nodded to the gatekeeper on my way through and headed up the steps of the vampire dormitory. The door creaked open with a little force and I aimed for the velvet-lined staircase.

"Good morning, Annabel," Ruka greeted from one of the parlor couches. Despite the pleasantries, her grim facial expression told me she was not enthused with my presence.

I nodded, "Good....night, Souen. Did classes-"

"-I'd like to know who you think you are," Ruka interrupted ferociously.

Wow. Such a Karen-vibe. I gave her a small smile, "Well I'm pretty sure my name is Annabel Diana Cross, but I could be wrong."

"Funny, human," the haughty girl stood up, and gracefully walked towards me with narrow eyes and stopped a mere foot in front of me, "I also find it funny how Lord Kaname dares to spend his time with a lowly, worthless human like you. You're sick, your blood even smells of it. How he can even stand to be around you is a miracle."

I felt my fists clench, "How Kaname spends his time is his business. If you're jealous, take it up with him instead of a lowly human." I stepped closer and attempted to put as much power in the next phrase as possible, "You better be careful how you talk to me. Get out of my face."

I could almost see the battle within her as my power baffled her vampire instincts. To her I smelt and felt human, but her inner instincts told her to obey. Without so much a goodbye, she spun on her toes and gracefully sashayed to her room.

I sighed and relaxed my shoulders. What a bitch.

"You almost had it, Annabel," Kaname spoke from the top of the stairs. Where did he come from?

"Almost? I had the she-wolf headed back to home," I grinned up at him.

Kaname shook his head, "Not quite. She obeyed your command, but there was little control over it. She didn't obey you immediately nor did she do so with her, uh "tail between her legs." Just to go with the wolf analogy."

"Well I can work on that one," I laughed, "I can get these vampires to serve me ice cream."

"Not today," Kaname added. My smile fell. "I have other plans for you."

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"Reading, really?" I groaned from my place at Kaname's desk. I spun myself around in the nice swivel chair.

"What do you expect when you don't do your homework at home," Kaname answered monotonous from his arm chair. He had a book of his own.

"I barely have time between vampire and human classes, night patrol, and Zero and Yuki drama. And the occasional vampire attack."

"Then stop being a naughty girl and stop complaining and use this time wisely," Kaname said without looking up from his book. I stared at him until he looked up. "Yes?"

"You called me a naughty girl and now I'm thinking you're a kinky bastard."

Kaname frustratingly closed his book with a sigh, "Okay, what is the real problem."

I blinked at him as he came beside me, "What?"

"You're not usually this distracted. What is wrong? Did Ruka say something too far?"

I thought back to the ordeal this morning, "Not really. She said you shouldn't waste your time on a lowly human like me and that my blood smells sick."

"Sick? I wouldn't say your blood smells ill." Kaname clarified, "Rather it smells pretty good, just confusing. It's a mix of Pureblood and human, so it is actually almost irresistible to most."

I blinked, "So I'm the caviar of the blood market?"

Kaname shrugged and leaned against the desk, "More or less. What is really bothering though? Is it a human thing?"

"I'm not sure what a human-thing would be?" I looked at him quizzically.

"I don't know, do you have a boyfriend or something? Humans are into emotional things like that."

I busted out laughing, "Yeah, no. Not bringing a boy into the drama that is this." I gestured to myself, "I do have a band though. We haven't had a band practice in a while because of my schedule."

Kaname seemed impressed, "Is that the day class rock band I've heard about?"

"Uh, probably. We're pretty popular with the day class students. I mean, it has some of the most handsome day class males. And quite a few guys think Hitomi and I are cute."

"Well that's obvious, you have vampire blood in you. You should be ethereal to the day class students," Kaname explained. Well, I'm not one to think like that. I'm a bit more humble, buddy.

I peered at Kaname for awhile. I wasn't sure why, but something was off. "What about you? What's wrong with you."

Kaname peered at me emotionlessly, "I am perfectly fine, Annabel. You, however, are racing against a clock, so get back to your reading."

The thought of my impending death shut me up. Begrudgingly, I opened Pureblood Families and started reading.

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"So why are you guys so egocentric?" I asked, shutting the text.

Kaname's head popped up from his book, "I don't possibly know what you mean."

"This book," I gestured forward, "It only has the Asian families: Kurans, Hios, Shirabukis, Shotos, Oris, Tomas, and Hanadagis. Nothing about the European sect, Africa, the Americas."

Kaname blinked, "I heard myths about an underground Pureblood society in areas beyond Asia. You, dear Annabel, are the first European pureblood I've met."

I pondered his words. My family always seemed well connected; parties, foreign diplomats, and multicultural decorations. Why were the Asian families so singled out that they thought they were the only ones to exist. Yes, there were still very few Pureblood families out there, but I was proof that there were more than just seven.

"How is society over there? Are vampires different?" Kaname asked. His voice was almost wistful.

I thought back to my childhood. I was a hidden child, I only got stories of vampire life from my parents and Emme. "We were feared and respected, people were in awe of us. But we could show emotion, all vampires could. We had more political power as well. I was very young, however, and I wasn't allowed to be seen due to my condition."

"You were secluded for your human traits," Kaname said effortlessly. It was the truth, but he didn't need to be so liberal with it.

"Yes, my sister told me stories though."

"You had an older sister? That's interesting."

I shook my head, "No, Emma was younger. She wasn't like me though, so she was able to be shown to the world as the first and only child of the Quinn Clan."

"And subsequently, the line appears to have died with her," Kaname added.

The weight of that sentence hit a nerve. The Quinn's were a powerful family with duties and responsibilities, what had happened when we all disappeared? Who had taken over, if anyone had? Or was the entire court dead or in hiding? These questions pressed against my chest and I didn't ignore them, nor push them away. IN the end, however, what could I do? I had a foot in two worlds, and it nullified my claim to either.

Silently, I put the book away and pulled out Hunters Hunting Hunters. As the title hinted, it talked about the vampire hunters of Asia. Europe didn't have a large association like here did. There were a couple zealous nutjobs who self-appointed themselves as such, but there services were usually rendered useless. As a society we were strict on vampire creation and Level E's weren't common. They were treated more humane in a facility with their own room. As the process got more and more strained for their once-human bodies, special pain relievers were given until they passed. And their creator would stand trial for murder and their treatment would be more gruesome. 

I tried to put my ethnocentrism aside when learning about vampire culture here. A large association existed to train gifted individuals on how to kill vampires, particularly Level E. So much war and fighting had existed between the two for centuries. Oftentimes, these were the real reasons for battles throughout Japanese history. Maybe this was the reason the existence of other purebloods had been kept away from this area?

I dropped my book on the desk and peered over at Kaname. The vampire's book was draped across his chest and his eyes closed. His breathes slow and peaceful. A small smile appeared as I watched him sleep. Here was the apex predator fallen asleep while reading.

I closed my book and stuck it in my bag. Quietly, I stood out my chair and crept towards the slumbering predator. As softly as possible I picked up the book on his chest and placed it pages down on the desk. Taking a step back, I glanced him over. His neck was bent to the left and his mouth slightly open. His long legs were spread apart as he had angled himself backwards into a comfortable position. Something was missing.

On the bed, I located a small throw blanket and came back over to drape it across Kaname. I leaned over to pull the corners as securly as possible on his broad shoulders. Content with my work, I went to stand. Quicker than I could track, Kaname's hand whipped forward and grabbed my wrist. Surprised, the motion made me knock forward and I stumbled onto Kaname's lap.

"Didn't anyone teach you not to mess with a sleeping bear?" Kaname spoke softly. His eyes opened and showed his piercing red stare.

I looked forward, unafraid. "You made that analogy, not me."

A look of annoyance swept across his face. I would have said more irritating remarks if I hadn't been on my knees straddling his legs. His right hand hung onto my wrist tightly and I watched his left hand move to cradle my face. "Annabel Quinn, you are one of the most infuriating persons I have ever met."

"I am thankful for the honor, but you have a long time to find more annoying folks than me," I joked with a slight smile. His gaze lingered on my lips and I felt heat flush in my cheeks as I looked away. Pressure from his hand guided my face back to look at him.

"The most interesting thing about you is that underneath your steel exterior you are still very much a girl," Kaname murmured. My gaze settled on his neck. "I'm not sure what my blood will do to you, Ana. When I had bitten you, I wondered if it would change you, but here you remain: half-human and half-vampire."

I leaned in closer to him and looked into his eyes. I felt his hand drop away from my jaw and settle on my lower back. "Could I conduct an experiment with the last couple minutes of class?" I watched his other hand let go of my wrist and watch him bring it to his neck. His nails punctured his skin and a sweet smell wafted towards me. Still, I waited with my eyes locked onto his.

"Drink."

Immediately, I was on him. The human part of me was screaming that this was weird and oddly sexual, but the vampire side was almost sighing with relief. I knew that this must have felt weird for Kaname. I didn't have my fangs so I was just sucking on his neck trying to get the blood to come out in more of a stream. It felt so good, it was a sweat mixture that coated my throat like honey. And I felt stronger and warm. Was I always this cold?

Kaname's hands rested on my lower back and on my head. I heard him moan slightly and his fingers grasped my hair. Was this pleasurable for him? Thinking back to when he drank from me, I guess it hadn't been a painful experience. Maybe if I had relaxed and given in in the same way he was, I would have had a similar reaction.

And then, I was feeling warm, too warm. I could hear my heart pounding and all other sounds faded away. My veins felt like lava and the discomfort made me pull away with a small cry. I landed on the floor in front of Kaname and closed my eyes as the fire burned in my throat. My stomach ached and all I could hear was my heart beating so fast. Suddenly, my eyes snapped open, I was on my feet, and racing towards Kaname's private bath. I was vomiting in the toilet before I had even realized that I needed to vomit.

I felt my long hair lifted from my sweating neck as I underwent another round of gagging. As the feeling evaporated, I crossed my arms on the ledge and rested my clammy forehead on them. I could finally hear something other than my heart.

"That was an unexpected reaction, I'm sorry my blood had that effect on you," Kaname spoke quietly. He dropped her hair and rubbed my back. I shrugged him off, too nauseous to be touched. Tears pricked in my eyes. It had felt so right and fulfilling until it hadn't. I remembered that humans vomited if they drank too much blood. I sighed, my stupid human side had taken over. Maybe that was for the best, as I wasn't certain I could have stopped myself.

I pulled away from the toilet and sat down. A wave of dizziness overcame me again and tears formed. Still, my vampire side craved blood. I had vomited everything I had just taken from Kaname. What a waste of blood. Fear pricked my soul as I realized what was happening. I had given into her vampire side and finally felt full for the first time. But then my human side came raging in and nullified that work. My body was truly at war with itself. The ending was clear: I would die if this continued.

"I'm so tired of being sick, Kaname."

That was the sentence I had been dreading saying. The dam broke free and treats poured down my face. I felt his heat against me as his arms wrapped around me. I rested my head against his shoulder.

"I know, Ana, I know."

Word count: 2619 

Thank you for reading!

Ever yours, hlwing