CHAPTER II

    (THE BLOOD IN THAT WINTER) 

    “NO matter what, do not trust anyone,”

    “DANIELA.”

     Hearing a gentle whisper from someone calling in a far distance as the voice echo from deep within the tunnel-like place surrounded by darkness, a gentle but cold breeze blew as light is now visible in a distance.  

    “Tick tock, tick tock.” 

     Somehow singing a dreadful lullaby, a voice in a corner hums in return. With the fast and rhythmic tapping sounds of fingers typing on a keyboard, the white screen shows and emphasizes with bold and capital letters the word, 'DEATH''.  

    To the shade of those merlot eyes and the hidden illusion of perfect beauty that hides in between are the shadowed eyes of a scaled serpentine dragon. The equivalent exchange of the life that draws to the written words accompanied with the meaning of,  

   “DEATH,” 

     Whispering the word as the eye of the dragon within her flashes in a second and reflected unto the screen, she asks. 

     “REINCARNATION,” 

     Somewhat reading, yet not, her skin created a wave-like motion as silver scales of a dragon are shown with each ripple then back to its human skin but shining under the ray of the full moon from the glass roof above. Smiling halfway and contently she seconds closes her eyes as she finally utters the impending word. 

      “CURSES”. 

     Typing the last word as her eyes slowly look at the whole picture studying the words and their underlying meaning, she looks behind smiling towards the image of a sleeping prince bound and asleep from the sacrifice of the past and the price for the sin of his shard heart. 

    Tilting her head to the right as those emotionless face looks far, yet near the gloomy sanctuary where ‘he’ lays. The dark corner of the past ‘she’ forgets. The game HE is about to play is ticking together as the seconds is coming to a start. 

    “One, two, three,” a song was echoed, “Let’s just see.” Humming the familiar tone. “Four, five-six,” writing the script, “Can they stay in glee?” holding the command that was past and granted to served and fulfilled. “Seven, eight, nine,” The face of the doll, the body of that world’s equivalent exchange, and the soul that was bound. “Could you let her be?” To the perfect chimera bound to serve with the soul tied in the puppeteer's string. “Ten, can you count, with me?” The teen dolled perfect dragoness smiles in silence. 

    Humming the tone in between as her true form is locked and hidden, her voice echoes to that cold room picturing the Maiden that the Prince holds dear and the one she needed to guard until she said her so. Tilting her head to the opposite side as her eyes are changing from its' human form unto her true form of a dragon’s, she whispers, asking with her wandering thoughts. 

    “She should not, right?” 

     Warning the words that he hears but could not reprimand. The cycle of their lives loops, the bloodshed, and the howl that is spinning back repeating from the end that tracks to its play are coming to hunt them once again. From this world's last loop of 7th and from the previous 6th, where everything is prepared and done to set this time in their favor, everything should turn back to what, where, and when it all should be. 

    The cycle of the world they are dwelling into, the 2nd book from the original Shinzo, and the shard pieces that ‘THEY BOTH’ owned as the other is torn into three, shall pave for them to know who is the fake one. From the knocking sound of death and blood in between, the cursed book that the other holds are paving the road to the different, yet the same tragic blood end that ‘HE’ paid with and they must complete. 

    “It is about to start.” 

    She coldly whispers as a slowly swirling hole of darkness was formed inches away, but specifically and directly unto her eyes. She coldly smiles bowing as she reached her hands near and towards the pale hands that are slowly emerging from the hole with the distinct mark around its writs indicating a guardian's symbol of Scorpio, yet more than that. 

    “I will.” 

     Reading the plan and accepting the will. It slowly turns, slowly opening its fingers as a blood-colored elixir falls into her hand. 

    Staring for a second as she took it near and guarding, she looks back at the hand that points a finger unto her. Blinking thrice and slow as the hand gestures the words, she and ‘they’ only knew. She nodded taking that silent command. 

     “I will.” 

     She finally whispers as the mysterious hand pinch a wound onto its pointing finger with its sharp nail, and blood drips fast as they let it fall onto the floor drawing a transmutation circle. 

    With the pentagram in response, she placed the elixir in the middle as a whispering chant echoes, where she could only hear. Locking her sight as the pentagram illuminated within its spell that is chanted, the blood inside turns into a mirrored clear liquid as the blue flame engulfs into bloody hue in return, creating the revival elixir represented by a thick color of blood. 

    “For her.”

      She whispers without hesitation, knowing to whom should it belong. Taking the elixir into her hands as the symbols and the pentagram disappears, leaving only the burned symbol of where it is cast. Nodding in response as the hand slowly went back to its hole as it slowly vanishes with it, she looks back, drawing that sinister smile, whispering. 

     “It is about time.” 

     To that living heart that pumps blood within her, the doll body she has in exchange for life to serve in utmost loyalty and fuse to an artificial and created dragon. The puppeteer that just visited, and the howling mark of the game, and the string that everyone is pulling to their benefit are coming once again to the height of the curse they all once fight against, but unsuccessfully. Yet, to the events and everything that surround them, she will surely see as she will surely know who are the enemy and the real reincarnated dead one.

    “What do you think?”

    Turning slowly back as her eyes gaze back to the monitor and her fingertips start to type fast, creating the words in each page of the book that she is writing. She looks and scans then stops, starring wary. Now with sympathy and worry as each page is coming to the life of the ones from those thousand years ago is knocking the curse and salvation, they are seeking but blinded to see. 

    “Time is runnings fast, as no one can change the past, yet, here they are repeating the same mistake.” 

     Warning the dread that never sees to stop and brought the tone of their repeating howls, she stares half blankly aside as her words form ‘HIS’ undying regret echoes as she warns and pleaded him, yet not.

       “You should wake up soon for she needed you badly, Lelouch.” 

    Ticking the tone once as the name marks its deepest cry, the Prince that was asleep, with the heart and soul that was shattered into three. The seconds set fast, for the time it ticks and the smell of blood that is hunting, she stops as she slowly reaches out her hand touching the screen and back as she says,

    “You miss her, right?” 

     Pinning her gaze towards the portrait for a minute and directly unto the image of the one that started everything, she smiles as the death warning rings knowing the arc and game of the Tarots. 

     Slowly taking her hands off the screen, taking the liberty of holding the mouse controlling the arrow, and scrolled it down. Her eyes become wary once again from the image of the class ‘SHE’ holds dear. 

    “Hurry and remember everything.” 

     She whispers, hoping for the only wish they all wanted since the very beginning as she looked ahead when a warning shadow approaches.

     To the tone that suddenly stops, a hum echoes together with the sudden beat of his raising heart that left her sinking with the dread that suddenly made known unto her existence. Just then hollow darkness beyond the light to where she sat and ‘HE’ lays asleep became clear, as it draws near with a warning pitch and a shriek from those imperceptible but heard trepidation. Closing her eyes waiting for it to stop, to her dragon’s ears that could hear a mile from the closest rage of their illusioned and made-up big world, it suddenly stops and vanishes. As her fingertip drag herself into the escape key, she looked for the last time, the image of the class that the curse encircled even before time exists and dimensions were born. Looking back and towards him, she asks. 

    “She will surely be okay, right?” 

     Asking the question that she knew the answer off, yet somehow is teasing the person who is in a deep sleep, a cold voice of the divine laughs from afar and echoes within a second. To each step that it took, a sinister smile can be pictured, and just a second and counting in the dark hallway, neon blue-colored eyes emerge as HIS giggles echo to the hallow space where he whispers. 

    “Well, well, well, it’s all up to the game they are playing.” 

     Giggling as the innocent tone of HIS voice echoes the place, the mystery that surrounds 'HIS' identity is hiding behind the past that he once played and is currently playing right now. 

    "Just what are you planning right now?"

    Curious enough as she can only look up and once towards HIM, he smiles cunningly ending with a smirk as he confirms giggling at the end.

   "Wait and see as I can only guarantee you is, that this will be fun."

   "How can you be so sure."

    "Well." HE pauses as he looks in utmost discern and with the glow of HIS eyes, he smiles saying, "For I am, GOD."

    “ONE by one,”

    As a melody is heard, echoing into the farthest distance and accompanied by the dread towards the darkness that surrounds everything beyond the light, the shadows lurk from deep within like hunters in your deep darkest fear. We're the ones that could only hear are those who have the known blood, to see, to hear, and touch everything beyond human capabilities. As the tone becomes clear and the words were vivid to be described, it says.

    “One by one they all will be crowned.”

   With the words that continue to whisper from a distance like a poem, death is warned as it binds with the eerie breeze of the warm spring season together with everyone’s footsteps, smiles, greetings, and laughs on the very first day of the school year. 

    Greeting each other as the long winter ended, to the school where everything seems normal by the first look only a few knew the darkness that it hides inside.

    “One by one as they all fall.”

   With the wind that gently sways the branches and

leaving the pink petal flowers of the trees to fall like a child being cradled to sleep. Its silent and soothing fragrance everyone's excitement filled the air as they met their friends that they hardly talk with for the long winter and knowing that Spring comes with so much possibility and another chance to do the things they never did the last time. Calming the hearts of the innocence from that perfect day after the coldest season everyone’s footsteps echoed with delight. Waving their hands from time to time, greeting each other a blissful ‘hello’, the truth that is set from the very beginning is the menace they will never know.    

     “Daniela!” 

     Calling the name that stole everyone's attention. They all glance back towards a beauty, a lady, and a famous queen with her long wavy black hair that is swaying gently by each step that she makes on her way into the crowd, her slender body that pins her image as a model, fair skin, pink lips and a greyish-colored pair of eyes. She is a beauty with her presence and smile that can strike everyone's heart, as the students pave a path for her to take, where she waves her hand, and with pure bliss and excitement she calls out once more for the maiden that the entire student body put into the highest pedestal. 

     "Daniela!" 

     Smiling as she grabs hold of the maiden’s arm, everyone is once again in awe, but more than an adoration to call or describe where you can find in their eyes as they lay their sight and mark their heart towards the Goddess they brand her about. 

     “Ohayo!” 

     She greeted with excitement and glee holding the maiden's arm tight and marking her possessiveness towards the only person she ever found trusting. The beauty everyone could not even dare to take a step near, as she can only trust more than her life is the person to whom is protecting her from the darkness of her born ability she learns to take as a blessing, by the teaching and guidance of her very best friend. 

     “Da-nie-la.” 

     She called again teasingly as the crystal Hoshi pendant sways by the steps that she takes. The treasure the maiden blesses to protects and guides her against the darkness and shadows that prowl in her light, and the only thing she cannot live without as she is towards her only trusted friend.

     “Ohayo, Alliah.” 

     Calm, preserve, adored, and protected by everyone, yet the most powerful one. The maiden who owns the peculiar starry violet and deep mix blue hue of eyes that resembles the night and is blessed by the day. With her distinct long dark straight hair that is always tied into a bun with a red ribbon and a small silver bell in between, each tick, each sound, and the wave that it brings marks her blood and importance for everyone who adores and can only see nothing, but to protect her. Yet, she is also the very sign of greed and vengeance for those who wanted her dead and hunted her blood. Supernaturals and demons who want nothing but her pureblood and who are lurking into the human realm to hunt the blood precious for their existence. 

     Nodding excitedly as she replied with the usual gesture of her smile. The person she found protecting more than anything, is the one with the mark of both the light and dark she swears to guide out of the shadow that hunts her in return as the presence of someone she knew but could not remember is giving off its presence towards her very best friend. 

     “Would you let me kill you?”

    Taken back as her vision pictured out the eerie and hellish smile of the familiar face, yet bath in blood as it considers a haven in between, it somewhat in a static but clouded sight replaces Alliah’s innocence and smiles that pictures for a second in her sight. As her senses tingled, the foul smell shriek, and a whisper echoes once more. 

“One by one as the time ends a ride.”

    Laughing sinisterly in a far distance as the wind brought her sweet serenade, and the day captured her perfect smile, the verse continues. Turning her sight back as the breeze, sharp and warily hit her in between. The bell that rings, the voice that captured her every sense welcomed her as the sinister laugh took her attention, and a distress call warns her. 

     “Wake up,”

    Screaming yet in a weak state, she looks back as she is shallowed by the sudden darkness that engulfs everything around her. Knowing that a dimension gate is open, a drop of water echoes as she found herself in the endless darkness, surrounded by the falling petals of the sakura flowers. Listening to nothingness as her hair is swaying gently to the wind that does not have a sound, the petals begin to dance into a swirl as a light merges in front of her. It started as a tiny dot, that's growing fast attracting the petals near it as it swirls around in a fast motion. 

     Taking the steps and even draw a fight, she knew that she is now standing in the shallow space of both death and life. As the light continues to grow rapidly, she heard a faint whisper that tells her.

    “You should wake up and remember everything, Daniela.”

    Now hearing the million ticking clocks, that somewhat is making a gentle serenade. The swirling light finally burst open, scattering the petals all around, she found a Goddess who came out from that light. Slowly opening her eyes, the voice she heard and that warns her, came to Goddess as she says. 

    “Remember the past, undo the present, and secure the future.”

    Looking at the

being her mind is telling her to be a Goddes, yet she knows it is not, the goddess slowly reaches out to her with its hand as she realizes that she is somewhat looking at the perfect mirror of herself. For the Goddess features resemble her, yet greater and far more she is. Like a perfect replica, but to the eyes of the expect she is the one branded as the copycat. Realizing that the one who is been calling and asking for the shard existence of a heart as she somehow recognizes what, but could not remember, is the person in front of her now. As the same call is being repeated but worse than before. 

    “My shard heart, I will take it back.”

    Before she could ask, her voice is somewhat trapped and restrain in every way where she could not speak, she is pulled back as everything from a blink of an eye turns back to where it all should be.

    “Daniela!”

    Waking up in a trance as Alliah looked at her with worry, she smiled nodding in a reply and assuring her that everything is all right. Looking back once more and quickly, the warning and blessing of the Goddess who took her in the dimension of space and time, is hunting her with a death warning she could not understand what. 

    “Let’s hurry!” 

     Dragging her with excitement as Alliah skips waving for her to hurry. She took everything on the back of her mind as the inevitable is about to begin. The festival of death will mark the howling darkness they all needed to secure, trap and protect the known land and world they hold dear.

     “Living and the dead, just who would you find protecting to, Daniela.”

    Hearing the fainted whisper as the familiar face waited for the two of them to join. Everyone looks at the group that they stood in utmost respect and adoration. The club the prominent six belong into, where its fame is accompanied by the mystery, paranormal, and supernatural they solve and everything beyond normal of the club they wear as a facade, the Blood +. They walk past their adoring fans as the gate pristine in every way open for the Academy's top students everyone knows and calls the Elites.

    “Ohayo, Daniela.” 

     Greeted by the man bowing in a courtesy fitted towards a princess, his silver-colored hair and eyes, perfectly carved chin, and physical appearance that is comparable to the perfection and beauty of Hercules is swooning every girl they pass in between. His smile captivates everyone that's creating the giggles and screams from the ladies around, with his name and the blood he owns that mark him as one of the best, but always 2nd to the maiden he adores more than anything, gave him the utmost respect as a genius and a prince in line with the academy's princes. 

    “Ohayo, JK.”

     Greeted him in response as he draws the perfect smile. A sweet scent of rose pave as a tall and slender beauty owning a pair of sky-blue eyes, short wavy blonde hair, a lady in every way and considered as one of the queens, took her steps to close and greeting. 

    “Ohayo, Alliah, Daniela.” 

     Smiling sweetly as her sweet voice is swoon by the gentle wind and captivating every man around them, whose adoration towards her is like a gentle flower. She is a queen wearing a mask behind her assassin's blood whose pledge and loyalty lies in protecting the maiden and the hunter. 

    “Ohayo, Emie.” 

     Daniela greeted back just as a snap of a camera took their attention. Looking beside with Alliah immediately making a peace sign and right on time as another snap from the same camera is taken, they smile as Alliah cheerfully greeted. 

    “Ohayo, Emie, Winona!” signing her greetings for the two ladies by which origins are different in everything, but rung the same interest and wants for the same maiden, Winona whispers.

    “Perfect.” She claims walking a few steps towards them. 

     With her all-looking fragile appearance, an introvert in nature, yet a genius in the journalistic field. Her name and richness pave her all to be notable around them and near her. Daughter and heiress of everything that they could lay sight upon in all the corners of the Academy they stand to. The camera that she owns by which resembles their real world, and the mystery that opens for the Academy's most famous club is warning her to the real threat from her blood that is yet to be known. 

     Stands the smallest among the rest, with her pale skin, dark pair of eyes, and shoulder blade straight midnight black hair. She is someone who perfectly records everything inside the ‘obscura’. 

     “Ohayo, Daniela.” She greeted without a smile as she looks beside and both ends asking, “He’s not here.” 

    Asking for that one as JK smirk quite piss, for the person he does not hate nor like in any way possible. The hunter with the same bloodline as the maiden, their clubs' president, yet the possessive cousin, is the one by which JK forever finds himself not trusting. 

    “He will be,” Daniela assures knowing everything. 

     Taking a nod as an agreement, they five took the steps inside the 2nd gate of the grand Academy and to the path that leads to the separate building that no one ‘normal’ could ever enter. No matter how rich, or talented you are, you may not be and with be among the elites that hold the secret and mystery no one knew, but for them. 

    “Let’s hurry!” cheerfully claims as Alliah’s always giddy self-calls, she waves looking back after taking a lead and three ahead skipping as she signs for the four of them to hurry. The gate opens as everyone stood beside paving a path for them and as always been adorning their very presence. 

    “The elites” as they adore lining up each day in each side waiting and just patiently in awe to the ones who stood at the very top. To the Academy's hierarchy that only marks them the 2nd to the 6th out from the best, they called the red code of the Elites. 

    “Let’s go, he’s probably waiting there.” Pertaining to the 6th and the hunter. The mark of their red blood uniform that separates and tags their very specialty and elites paves. Unlike the rest, the sanctuary and the building to the far corner are tangled and distinct with its luxury and rich design bringing the distinction among them. To the next and lower rankings that follow. The pattern of the rainbow and the lowest of the low by their white and black uniforms, the elites that’s distinction mark with their ability the ‘normal ones’ only known as being the best in everything is way more than they could ever comprehend. 

    Taking the long hallway of their all-exclusive building the silence that’s around, the peace and serenity that’s being protected by spells and charms, the ordinary school building known for being an exclusive one for the top and elites are all, but a facade. To the clock that ticks and the rooms that have never been ordinary in the first place. The floors intended for another, spells, curses, divination, witchcraft, alchemy, demonology, hunters, angels, and demons, their distinct abilities beyond everyone’s understanding to be ‘normal’ are trained and hidden behind the multiple rooms that no ordinary should ever enter. Stopping as their steps stood, opening the door as the end corner of the 7th floor is present, they greeted the maiden with a bow of the hunter by which bloodline resembles to protect her. 

    “Ohayo, Kyle!” Alliah greeted cheerfully in between, and as Daniela calls his name in a whisper, he placed a satisfactory smile. 

The hunter with his blood, who owns a pair of azure eyes and dark long hair tied in a bun, by which life only revolves to his desire and promise to protect one. JK smirks as their sight found each other now locking with the hate and unforgiving reason that both of them even didn’t know what or why. 

     “Tsk!” smirking it triggered a death stare for the both of them. 

     Winona snaps a shot as the flashing light broke them both out as she looks at them with threat and warning.

    “‘Class’ will begin shortly we should all take our seats.” She calmly requested with authority as they both followed, making Alliah giggle without even knowing the entire picture. 

Skipping back to her seat beside Daniela and Emie to whom tap JK’s shoulder, signing him to seat down as off Kyle to do the same. 

    Clicking a shot of her camera as it flashes the perfect picture, an eerie step echoed as it is turning, louder and louder with each second. Stealing their attention as they went back to their respected seats. The door slides open as the image of a shaman hiding by the facade of her innocent face and identity. With those pair of serene eyes and jet-black short hair the bloodline in line to the Gomez and the role she took, the instructor and warning adviser to the 6 by which was never normal from the very beginning.  

    “Shall we start?” Taken from her sweet voice as the curtains shut close, marking for a drawn pentagram in front of them. She took a drop of her blood as she calls a familiar of a nine-tailed foxed. “Miho.” She calls it as it howls, taking its step out of the circle with a demon’s hand in two. 

    “Something is not right,” Kyle reprimand playing with his hunter’s knife. The second as the familiar place the hand down he flowed a stab directly to the middle sizing the material as it vanishes in ashes distinctly with a mark and color of dark and blue flame. 

    “Lucifer’s flame.” Emie identified as they all smelled the stench that screams the degree of the demon’s ability. “3rd, that’s the rank.” She informed warning the treat that they needed to clean up from the ranking of 7 as the lowest and 1 as the deadliest. 

    “It’s worse than before.” Clicking her camera as it flashes. Registering the images in between, Winona added as they silently assess the situation. 

    “Fifty, that’s how many of the demons and monsters are lurking in the dark for these past days,” Alliah informs that though quite scared, she is still the vessel they needed to know the origins. “With the death festival that is approaching, don’t you think they are someone behind all of this?” Triggering the thoughts that they have all been pinning to say. Daniela smiled gently tapping her head commending her with her observation. Which she purely smiles proudly to herself as a trainee taken by the maiden to fight her fears and embrace her rare ability of possession and a drifter. 

    “Maybe, or even greater,” JK added, collecting the ashes inside the test tube, securing it for greater analysis for the latter. 

    “We still do not know what’ i happening as eerie and unrecognizable demons are lurking by each minute,” their instructor and a facade of an adviser, the shaman herself and once thought to be the thousand reincarnated maiden claims. 

     Calling back her familiar in return as the pentagram vanishes together with the curtains that slide opens, she added. 

     “This coming death festival I want you all to be prepared, especially you, Daniela.” 

     Warning the tone as the hunt of the pure maiden’s blood is ticking at large the knights that swear to protect and the enemy that’s getting near and much more powerful than they still couldn’t name off. The wary is getting thinner and thinner. 

    “I will.” Calmly claims as the rest pins their resolve to protect her, she smiles as the bell ends their homeroom. 

    Closing the door behind she walks back aided by her familiarity in the shadow's light that those only the gifted can see and hear. A call stopped her in return.

    “Haruna sensei!” gasping with air as Alliah rushes to catch on her. She took a quick breath in as she collected herself, nodding. “Sensei.” Pleading with conviction in her eyes as she holds the Hoshi pendant that Daniela gave to protect her in everything, Haruna's sight flooded with worry in between.

    “You should think about this Alliah.” She always warns as the conviction that Alliah has will bring either her salvation or destruction. 

Yet, gesturing with a ‘no’ as she insists as she needed to get strong not just to prove herself, to defend her soul, but to be worthy beside the only friend to whom she can’t lose. 

    “Daniela!”

    Hitting the memory of the past festival as her naïve and stupidity almost causes the maiden’s blood and puts every one of their worlds in danger. She swears that it will never happen again. Where in this time she will be the one to protect Daniela and not the other way around. 

    “I need to do this.” With conviction at hand as a plan to change is a secret from everyone, the promise Haruna made is knocking the weighing justice and crime of what is good and evil. 

    “Promise me that one thing, Haruna sensei.”

    Taking a deep breath as the inevitable is always the truth, she nodded instructing. “Tomorrow before midnight in the divination room, I’ll be waiting for you.” 

    Nodding cheerfully in response, she runs back as Haruna is left with the agony of the plan Alliah is trying to achieve to be a powerful drifter. She took her steps as a knocking eerie silence is whispering in between. 

    “My, my, my, just how can this world end up to, right, Daniela?”

    Hearing the blissful whisper as the wind blew its gentle air. To her eyes that was only caught by the oldest and biggest Sakura tree. The known identity, yet she could not confirm. The sound of a kid’s voice, yet greater than what he is. Is howling the silent truth of their original existence. 

    “Because I am GOD.”