Chapter Sixteen

~3rd POV~

Everyone was ready to go to Quentin's ball, everyone was uneasy. Yuuki had said her goodbyes to her father just in case things didn't work out in which she had made sure that they got Elissa before herself as Elissa had been gone longer and who knew what state she would be in. The car ride with Kaname, Takuma, Elissa and Zero was thick with silent tension. That was until Takuma decided to break the silence.

"Kaname, what should we do if Elissa is there?" He asked quietly. Kaname stared at him for a second thinking.

"We'll get her separated from Quentin somehow." Kaname said, his feelings overwhelming him of the possibility of seeing his beloved with Quentin. 

"If this is going to work you can't separate her from him Kaname. He needs to think he's winning. If you're trying to take her back he won't hesitate to leave with her, he wants to keep the upper hand on you. Please try to restrain yourself tonight Kaname." 

"Yuuki you do not know of what you ask of me. Restraining myself from the woman I love? I have been yearning for her for a month now, how could I turn my back on her if I see her?" 

"Kaname, Yuuki is right. We can't try anything, we have to play along with his rules." Takuma stated.

"What are you idiots talking about? What are you all planning?" Zero sighed frustrated, he was the only one in the car who wasn't in on the plot and for good reasons too. Kaname sighed and nodded to Yuuki who bit into Zero instantly, whispering an apology before doing so. 

"What is she doing?" Takuma nearly shrieked and Kaname just looked at him with a warning look, looking at him as if he would pull her off of Zero. 

"She's erasing his memory of the conversation, as far as he's aware the car journey was silent," Kaname explained to Takuma who slowly nodded in realisation, "It's easier and better if he doesn't know what we are planning, not from the lack of trust-"

"But because we need his true and real reaction to it.." Takuma realized their plan and Kaname nodded. 

Yuuki pulled off Zero and wiped her mouth, "Sorry Zero... I couldn't restrain myself.." She apologized innocently. Zero just gave her an understanding small smile.

"It's alright Yuuki, I know that feeling all too well." Zero told her and she nodded. The rest of the car journey she didn't make eye contact with him out of pure guilt.

They entered the building that Quentin had used for the location of the ball. The vampires of guard took their coats as each of them thanked them - All except Zero. He recognized some of these vampires as the senate vampires. Once they made that discovery Kaname took Yuuki from Takuma's embrace to put his arm protectively around her. Takuma didn't question, he understood the urgent need for Kaname to protect her. Takuma had the urge to run back to the car for his sword but he fought against it. 

They walked down the staircase everyone turning to Kaname and Yuuki bowing their heads as Kaname and Yuuki both told them to rise. They joined the crowds, Zero and Takuma nearby. Aidou shortly joined them as his father and his sister had made him attend with them. 

"Something isn't right.." Aidou whispered to Kaname, who stood silently. He turned to Zero and he was  already looking at him. He had heard Aidou and he felt relieved that someone else felt the same as him. 

"Just wait it out Aidou. We cannot do anything here, do you understand?" Kaname ordered him and Aidou who nodded in response. He looked back to Zero whose eyes were widened and it seemed like he was fighting himself. Aidou looked over to see what had Zero so shaken up to find Elissa on the staircase with Quentin. 

"Kaname." Zero just about got out, gritting his teeth in rage. He was fighting himself to stay still as he knew if he took one step forward he would attack in full blown rage. 

Kaname and Yuuki looked over as well and Kaname heard Yuuki's gasp. Takuma took Yuuki's hand in his and she squeezed it needing the reassurance in which Takuma squeezed back. The glass that Kaname held started to crack and Yuuki stood in front of Kaname to stop others seeing his temper being unleashed. She turned to face him and took the glass from his hand before it shattered. 

"Kaname, calm down. It'll be okay." Yuuki whispered calmly to him giving him a hug and passing the glass to Takuma. Kaname held her tightly as she hugged him feeling his anger fade away slightly. He managed to get a grip on himself again. 

"My cousins! Why hello there! It's so nice to see you both again!" Quentin's voice was heard from behind Yuuki. 

~Your POV~ 

You entered the building with Quentin as the senate guards Quentin had placed on you for the past month had taken your coats. Before getting further inside the building Quentin turned to you. He grabbed your hand and put a bracelet around it, "I want you to know that I have appreciated the help you have given me and the co-operation Elissa. I'm not a beast and I can be reasoned with. Kaname and Yuuki are probably already inside with Zero, and he knows his orders. I want you on your best behaviour and if you do not return to me by the end of the night. Well, you'll see what this bracelet can do. Oh, and I'd recommend you to not try to take the bracelet off. It'll be less painful for you." He gave you a little smirk as you stared at him terrified. You didn't care about the bracelet and yourself, you cared about what he said about Zero. He  has his orders? What orders?

"What're you making him do?" You asked your voice quivering a little. You knew Quentin had the means to make Zero do anything he wanted him to do, all because you were his hostage. 

"You'll see. I kind of pity Kaname though, he should have kept you in hiding. Was it your idea to move back to the academy or was it your dear little sisters idea? Or maybe, just maybe, was it Kaname's?" He asked and you sighed in defeat. 

You knew what happened if you didn't give Quentin answers and it never ended well for you, "It was my idea." You had regretted that decision for a whole month. If you had never pleaded Kaname to go back to the academy, this wouldn't have happened. 

Quentin pulled you next to him by putting his arm around your waist holding you in place. His grip was a lot firmer than Kaname's ever was. Quentin was more like a death grip, his grip hurt whereas Kaname's was always gentle. "Loosen your grip." You whispered to Quentin and he chuckled, he did a little but not much. 

"And let you run off to dear Kaname in front of everyone? Not a chance." He said and you both walked down the staircase. Everyone bowing to you but unsure to bow for Quentin, you smiled at everyone and they rose up watching you make your way into the crowds with Quentin. You heard the whispers and it made you anxious, "Don't worry darling, I'm here with you. Calm your heart down." Quentin whispered to you in a soft voice. It was the most soft and gentle you'd ever heard his voice be. 

So there was a side of him that cared.

You oddly felt your heart calm down and he chuckled, "It's nice to see that my presence comforts you." He whispered and you scoffed at him. "My cousins! Why hello there! It's so nice to see you both again!" Quentin practically shouted his voice seemingly happy and cheerful. You looked up to see Yuuki pulling off of Kaname and Kaname's gaze connecting with yours. Your eyes watered at the sight of your siblings, you felt joy beaming out of you as you saw them both and knew they were real. 

They noticed your state and sympathetically smiled at you as you noticed Kaname's arm on Yuuki. You couldn't blame him for feeling threatened in the presence of your kidnapper. You noticed her other hand was connected to Takuma's which made you smile at. You were happy that there was at least someone that helped Yuuki find her own form of happiness. You looked to see Aidou who nodded at you in which you nodded subtly back to and noticed that Zero was beside him. He looked at you like he'd seen a ghost. Your nerves began to unsettle themselves being reminded of what Quentin had told you. You decided to try and mind link to Kaname to try and give him some warning on what Quentin had done, but you had no victory in getting through to him. It made you frustrated. 

"Everyone, I believe my cousin wanted to announce a surprise. At least that's what he said when he told me to gather all of you fine people here with us. Kaname, dear cousin, please do make your announcement." Quentin smiled at Kaname and you looked between the utterly confused. Kaname nodded and made his way to the staircase so everyone would see him clearly. He grabbed a champagne glass from one of the waiters heading past him. You noticed everyone else being handed glasses including yourself. Even Zero had one.

"First of all, I'd like to thank Quentin for putting such a lovely event on this evening. I wanted to surprise my cousin with this announcement, he has never been one for status but he is a dear cousin of ours. We are quite close with Quentin, considering his fathers actions weren't the best towards our family. I want to ask you all to start addressing Quentin how you would address a pureblood. He is half pureblood after all. Please, he is family and it is my honor to bestow him this favour." Kaname explained gracefully, you looked up at Quentin who had a smile that made you think Rido was standing next to you at first. It was a sinister smile that Rido always had on his face. 

Once everyone turned to Quentin his sinister smile vanished without a trace and a stunned facial expression appeared. You had to admit, he knew how to act. Whilst everyone's eyes were off of Kaname he gave a menacing glare that had once scared you but now you just wanted him to unleash his rage on Quentin as soon as possible. You wanted the beast in Kaname to appear. 

"Cousin- I... This is such a surprise!" Quentin exclaimed putting his hand to his mouth most likely his method of hiding his grin starting to reappear. Everyone started bowing to him and you watched everyone as they knelt down to him. Your thoughts were racing, so was your heart. 

"No... Power is what he wanted.." You thought to yourself as you started panicking a little. You looked to Yuuki and Takuma who were just as shocked as you.

"Please everyone, rise back up. Let's enjoy ourselves together." Quentin said raising his glass up, "To my cousins." He cheered and everyone cheered with him joining his toast. You felt like you couldn't breathe so you broke free of Quentin's grasp finding the nearest balcony. You closed the doors behind you and let the fresh air circulate your lungs. You moved from the doors and leant on the balcony. You saw the roses on the vines on the balcony and smiled remembering the school dance as a human. 

The next thing that appeared was a plucked rose being handed to you. You took it from the hand and looked at the person who gave it you only to have watering eyes and throwing yourself into his arms. His arms locking around you tightly as he took in scent. 

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So who do you think is on the balcony with you?

Thank you for reading <3