Finding My Way

Chapter 25

Zero was just waking up from a good day's rest in the bedroom he'd been given at the Kurenai estate. He feels surprised that he'd slept so well in a strange place. Maybe the fact that Maria was safe and sound had settled some part of him and allowed him to relax.

Maria's mother had come back into the sitting room while he'd been hugging Maria and had cleared her throat, telling him that a room was ready and making it clear that it was time for everyone to sleep.

Grudgingly, he'd separated from Maria and followed her mother to the room she'd appointed for him. Before leaving him to his own devices she had said, "Thank you for watching out for our daughter." And left.

Zero had wanted to find Maria again and he might have done so if it weren't for the bone-crushing fatigue that hit him as he'd entered the room. How long had it been since he'd properly slept? He didn't know.

He'd found a box of blood tablets sitting on his nightstand. Maria's parents hadn't mentioned his "condition" or rather, his vampire-ness, but they'd obviously known. He'd found himself grateful for that additional touch and took some before stripping down to his underwear and crashing into the bed.

Now that he's awake, Zero climbs out of bed and opens up the drawn curtain a crack. The sunset cast the countryside in beautiful colors. During these in-between times, it didn't hurt to look at the sun quite as much as when it was at its full strength.

After a few moments of allowing himself to appreciate the view, he turns away from the window and strolls over to his nightstand to take some more blood tablets. As he finishing swallowing, a note appears on the stand. He recognizes the handwriting right away. Yuki.

Zero,

I hate to interrupt you, but we need you back here. I need you. Things are...not going well.

Yuki

A cold foreboding creeps over Zero's skin. Yuki's note is very vague, but he could guess at what might be happening. Rido.

He had to leave. He'd wanted to spend more time with Maria, but that would have to wait.

Quickly, he throws his clothes back on and exits the room, determined to find Maria and let her know that he has to go.

As if she'd known he wanted to find her, Zero enters the hall and sees Maria approaching.

"Zero!" she says happily. "I was just coming to invite you to dine with us." Then she sees his face as she gets closer. "What happened?"

"I got a note from Yuki," Zero explains. "I have to go back to the academy right away."

Maria nods. "It's to do with him isn't it?"

Zero had forgotten that Maria likely knew about Rido. Probably she knew more than he did.

Zero nods, confirming her question.

"I'm going with you," she says immediately.

"What? No, you're not," Zero says.

Maria draws herself up to her full height, glaring at him. Zero almost took a step back.

"I am most certainly going with you," she says. "You need me. You need what I know. And besides, I'm not helpless." She tosses her hair over her shoulder, looking haughty. "I sacrificed much to become strong. I haven't been idle this past month. I'm coming with you."

"Okay," Zero says. "Should we tell your parents?"

"Tell us what?" Lady Kurenai says, coming around the corner. Her husband is nowhere in sight, which makes Zero feel inwardly relieved. Not that he'd ever admit that to anyone.