I didn't get super far into patrol when I found bullshit in the form of a blond with a pension for drinking blood. I was freely jumping from the rooftops- with Yuki and Zero now aware of my vampiric grace I no longer cared to hide it. As I came over the staff halls, I found the vampire calmly standing in the shadows of the balcony. I landed quietly beside him.

"Whatcha-" I was cut off as he placed his hand over my mouth and pulled me closer into the shadows.

"Be quiet will you," Aido hissed, "Watch." I followed where he nodded and found Yuki and Zero in the cusp of the grove. Okay? He wants to watch my foster siblings. That's a weird move, but okay. Given the fact that they had been super weird around each other since Zero's secret of drinking blood got out, I wasn't super keen on watching them without them knowing. The two seemed to be arguing like usual, so I tried my vampire hearing out.

"It's my job to end your life- isn't it?" Yuki said, "You gave me a gun for that very purpose. It's in my desk drawer right now, ready and waiting, to remind me of the promise I made to you." I hoped Sayori, Yuki's roommate, never went through Yuki's things looking for a pen or else she'd be in for a surprise.

"That's true," Zero agreed, "I guess it would be hard for you to keep your promise if I go and disappear on you. But this means you're assuming I'll be beaten at my own game, doesn't it? That's kind of rude." I rolled my eyes, way to be a dick, Zero.

Yuki moved quickly, slapping the pessimistic boy's chest. "Don't you accuse me of being rude!" She gave him a grin and a wink, "But I do believe in you, kay?"

I would have laughed and smiled if I didn't immediately feel an off presence. Maria Kurenai seemed to float into the same courtyard as Yuki and Zero, her gray hair shrouded around her like a veil. The wind blew, dragging her scent to me. She smelled. . .off? It smelled synthetic, like canned cheese or vegan cream cheese.

"Oh, hey Maria," Yuki greeted, "Is something wrong?" Something felt wrong, but I couldn't voice that from up in the shadows. Aido had pulled his hand away from me, but still held onto my arm to stop me from joining whatever was going on. I could have easily left his grasp but opted to stay hidden. Maria didn't trust me like Yuki, and she seemed interested in Zero especially. My presence would ruin the intel I could gather on this strange girl.

"I think I may have taken my little prank too far," Maria admitted, "Everyone hates me now." I looked over at Aido and he nodded, answering the fact that everyone indeed hated Maria. Zero lost his shit and aimed his gun at Maria. Too far, too far! I went to move, but Aido pulled me back once again. Yuki jumped in front of the tiny girl to stop Zero from killing the aristocrat.

"No!" Yuki shouted, "You pulled that gun on her for no reason. Why would you do that?"

Zero rocked unsteadily on his feet, "Who- who are you?"

Maria hid herself behind Yuki, peering up innocently at Zero. "How do you do? I am Maria Kurenai."

Trigger-happy Zero put away his gun and Yuki consoled the girl, "I'm sorry if he scared you Maria. He's a guardian here at the academy like my sister and I are. His name is Zero. He generally doesn't take things this far. . . well, not usually." I tried not to laugh at Yuki's attempt to explain Zero's anger issues and his unrealized fondness for shooting vampires.

Maria nodded acceptingly, "Yes, but I shouldn't be wandering the grounds so late at night. I apologize." Maria grew close to Yuki, almost hugging her back. I tried harder to listen as the girl whispered, "And- thank you so much for protecting me, Yuki. You're nice. I like girls like you. You see, good girls like you happen to taste especially delicious, Yuki." The girl gave a girlish giggle as she pulled away and waved. "Now, don't fight!"

Maria skipped away. Yuki and Zero looked at each other and separately left the grove to continue their patrols. Both would have a lot to think about tonight. It was only when we lost sight of Zero did Aido let me go.

"That," Aido sighed, "was incredibly interesting." I nodded mutely trying to figure out what was so off about Maria Kurenai. Aido continued to jabber, "Something is off between Maria and Zero, that is for sure. Do you know anything about the girl that the school files don't? She walks into night class and acts like she owns the place- disrespects Lord Kaname."

"No," I answered carefully, "I saw her file, but Yuki was the one to give her a school tour. You are right, she is a strange girl."

Aido looked up at the moon and the stars, "I suppose more investigating will have to be done. Something isn't right here. . .Lord Kaname does not know I am investigating this- none of them really do. Please keep this between us."

I nodded, "There isn't anything to tell."

"Well," Aido started lazily. He looked back at me with a dumb smirk, "maybe you could tell me how you could hear their conversation word for word? Secret for a secret? I saw you wanting to obliterate Maria for whatever she whispered into Yuki's ear- even Zero and I couldn't hear that."

I shifted awkwardly, "I'm not sure what you mean, Aido. She was a vampire getting close to my sister's neck. That's enough to make me jumpy."

Aido's smirk fell as he seemed to be taking in my presence and all of my lies that came with it. He gave me a tight smile, "I will leave you to your work, Disciplinary Committee." With that he leapt away towards the night class dorms.

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The morning came too quickly. I had opted to sleep in the headmaster's house in favor of not waking up my roommate, Moka. Furthermore, I knew I was not going to be getting restful sleep anyways. I hated sterile places like hospitals and clinics. The smell of cleaner and bleach always brought me back there. To that stupid, dark room. To the place that I was starved and tested on. To the place that I had lost my family.

So I didn't sleep. Kaian had kept a blanket and pillow out for me on the couch, but they remained untouched as I did everything I could think of to not sleep. I did my homework for school and my homework for Kaname, I listened to demos the band and I had put together earlier in the week, and I even cleaned the kitchen. Slowly, the sun started to rise- meaning I had been up for almost a full day. I switched gears and made breakfast for the headmaster to hopefully make him think that I was an early riser and not a stay-up-all-night-er.

The smell of ham in the pan was invigorating as I turned to make a pot of coffee. One thing the headmaster and I agreed on was a nice black, dark roast. I flipped the ham and beat the eggs. With cafeteria food being provided, I didn't cook often, but I found myself enjoying it when I did. It felt simple and automatic. It made me feel like just Annabel- no vampire family, no vampire blood at war inside me, no dead parents. I could easily slip into a perspective of just being a normal teenage girl where my biggest concerns were homework and whether Daichi in Precalculus liked me.

"Oh my daughter," Kaian gushed as he came out in his pajamas, "you look so cute while your making your dad breakfast. Oh look at how good the eggs look. Ooooo! Coffeeeeee!" The man had no chill.

I gave a small grin and pointed at the food, "Ham and eggs. The eggs have cheese, spinach, and peppers in it too. And I made our favorite coffee." Kaian clapped excitedly and hummed happily as he set the table. He pulled out orange juice from the fridge for me to take with my medication- vitamin C helps the body store iron. I nodded appreciatively and plated the food as he poured us coffee.

My foster father and I sat and enjoyed the remaining sunrise in the peacefulness of the headmaster's dorm. It did beat the noisiness of the cafeteria, so maybe I should plan to do this more often. Kaian would be overjoyed with that. 

"Will you try to nap in the car?" Kaian asked in between sips from his 'World's Best Dad' he had gifted himself for Christmas when I was nine. In response, I took a big sip of my coffee. The headmaster sighed and stood to pick up our plates, "I will do the dishes when we get back and you will be taking the day off to catch up on sleep. Tonight, however, please apologize to your sister. I would like our Sunday meal to not be full of teenage angst."

"I would recommend not inviting Zero then."

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Dr. Icen's office was just as I remembered it. A teal clinic bed with fresh paper lining, happy pictures of cartoon characters on the walls, a worn, leather stool on wheels. And medical equipment: things to check your nose and eyes, blood pressure cuffs, cotton balls, wood tongue compressors, and bandaids. I was fine with all of these things- it was the fluorescents and the smell I could not stand.

Kaian faithfully came with me to every check up. He asked great questions- asking about what I should eat, what to do if I got sicker, what would be our next steps. It would have all been much better and easier if Dr. Icen wasn't a doctor for the Hunter's Association.

I'm secretly a vampire, remember? I can't go to a human doctor or a vampire doctor.

"How is it going, Annabel dear?" Dr. Icen greeted enthusiastically. He was a jolly, portly man with the wisps of a gray beard wanting to grow. He seemed like an unconventional choice to work as a doctor for vampire hunters, but then again- they did have a legit vampire vampire hunter within their ranks now.

I smiled politely and gave a small bow, "I'm alright, Doctor."

"Oh you wouldn't be here if you were alright, right?" Dr. Icen pressed with a grin and a wink. I felt myself relax in his presence. He reminded me of Santa Claus.

"I am afraid the medication we have her on is not enough," Kaian lamented, "As far as I know it is just severe dizzy spells and fatigue for right now, but I worry about her heart working too hard."

"Legitimate concerts, Mr. Cross." Dr. Icen agreed with a nod. He met my gaze, "Anything else, Annie?"

I shrugged, "Like symptoms? Pretty much just that iron-wise. I- I started doubling my medication dosage and taking the school-issued blood tablets that are given to the night class and that has taken the edge off."

Dr. Icen sat down on his stool, which was slightly comical to watch the larger man rest on such a tiny seat. He put on his reading glasses and made some notes down in my file and flipped to the back of it- where my first blood tests were recorded. He made a few more notes and took off his glasses, resting them in his coat pocket.

"I would like to run another blood sample to see where your levels are at. Additionally, we will be testing the ratio of vampire blood to human to see if that has changed. I assume your cycles are regular?"

My cheeks flushed and I avoided looking at Kaian, "Um, yeah."

"Last one was?"

"Two weeks ago was the end." He made a few more notes while my soul died a little of embarrassment. I was with my dad for Christ's sake!

"Alright," Dr. Icen stood, "A nurse will be in to collect some vials shortly. I will push your priority level to see if we can get you anemia results within the day." I nodded mutely, preparing myself for the needles. Kaian handed me a water bottle to drink and so I would have something to fiddle with in my hands. With a wave, Dr. Icen left to order the dreaded tests.

"What do you think is happening?" Kaian questioned, perhaps more to himself than to me. I was an anomaly with no precedent of my condition found. That was the biggest question, wasn't it? What had happened to make me this way? What will happen to me? In a lot of ways I felt like an unstable reaction or a landmine. I was blowing up on a cellular level with no warning on the damage zone.

"I think we will just have to adjust my medication," I reassured him. I didn't believe a word I said.

Kaian nodded, but I didn't think he believed me either. I never got better, and the equilibrium we had established with my medication was out of balance yielding more and more problems. Not to mention that I was discovering more and more of my pureblood powers- which my human tendencies did not wholly support.

We sat in silence until a nurse came into the room. She was sweet-looking and middle aged with ginger hair pulled up into a professional bun and crystal blue eyes. She was stunning. I absentmindedly wondered how she came into affiliation with The Association.

"Hello, Mr. Cross," she greeted my foster dad with a blinding smile. Okay then?

Kaian nodded and smiled politely, "Nice to see you, Ms. Graystone."

I looked between the two with narrowed eyes. How creepy it was to watch your father figure catch someone's gaze like that. I looked at the stainless steel tray she brought in with her that was filled with empty vials, a needle, and other things. I took a deep breath- I wasn't fond of any medical procedures. Call me a nonsensical wimp on nonsensical. You can get your blood drunk by a legit vampire without batting an eye, but a sterile needle makes your head spin? Pathetic, I know. Kaian grabbed my hand without me asking. He had been with me to enough of these.

"Hey sweetie," Nurse Graystone greeted. It didn't feel as warm as it was with Kaian, but most of the association were either wary of me or wanted me dead for even having a drop of vampire blood in me. "I'm going to take some blood samples today, okay? Let me know if you get lightheaded or dizzy, okay? I know seeing blood can do that to- uh- to people."

I nodded. I would rather get this done than fight with this woman that I was a 'person'. Without missing a beat, the woman cleaned a spot on my inner arm. I looked away from what she was doing and focused on Kaian's hand on mine. He had callused hands that seemed unfitting for a scholar, but I knew it came from his training. I wonder how many vampires he had killed?

"You may feel a slight pinch." Nurse Graystone warned. I didn't feel a pinch, however, because the moment the needle entered my skin the world went black.

Word count: 2565

Started: 7/26/23

Finished: 7/29/23