The Storm Breaks

She pushed him away.

His look became cold again. But this time, it was different. There was something in his crimson eyes — something wounded, something raw. Something that made her chest ache.

"Fine," he said, his voice flat. "I won't. But stay away from the heiresses."

He vanished.

She felt bad. Regret hovered all over her body like a second skin. She let out a shaky sigh.

"Why do I feel this way?" she whispered to the empty air.

She walked through the hall, her footsteps echoing against the cold stone. Her mind was a storm of questions. Why did I push him away? Why does he care so much? Why do I care so much?

A voice erupted from the shadows.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

"Well, well, well," a voice purred. "If it isn't the shameless human."

The girl smiled uncontrollably — it was Natsumi, the Phoenix Heiress. Her fiery red-orange hair cascaded down her back like liquid flame. Her golden-amber eyes sparkled with cruel amusement. Four companions flanked her, their expressions hungry.

"Hm, couldn't agree with you more."

Another girl emerged from the shadows — Yuri, the Fox Heiress. Her fiery red-orange hair was long and wavy, like a fox's fur. Her amber eyes were sharp, clever, and deadly. She was flanked by her own companions.

"I'd like to make her pay for distracting Rai," Yuri said, her voice dripping with venom. Her gaze shifted to Natsumi. "Don't forget that we're not friends. We're only doing this to eliminate our biggest threat."

Natsumi looked at her with disgust.

"Yeah, I know."

Yuki's blood ran cold. She backed up slowly, her heart hammering.

"Girls," Natsumi said, her smile widening. "Drag her to the pond."

The four girls from each side grabbed Yuki's arms, their grips like iron.

"Let go of me!" Yuki screamed, struggling against them.

Natsumi walked toward her, her heels clicking against the stone floor.

"You have no shame trying to seduce Rai," she hissed. "Who do you think you are?!"

Crack.

A slap ran across Yuki's face. Her head snapped to the side. Her cheek burned bright red. She tasted blood — copper and salt — as her lip split open.

"We've been on the pursuit for Rai for years," Natsumi continued, her voice cold. "And you just show up and ruin everything."

Crack.

Another slap. This time, Yuki coughed blood. Her vision swam.

"Drag her," Natsumi commanded. "We're not done."

They dragged her to the pond — a dark, still body of water surrounded by weeping willows. They forced her to her knees in front of it. Hands grabbed her hair, yanking her head back.

"The real hell starts now!" Yuri snarled.

They shoved her face into the water.

Yuki gasped, choking. Water flooded her nose and mouth. She thrashed, but their grip was unrelenting. She counted the seconds. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. They pulled her head up.

"How do you feel?" Natsumi asked, her voice mocking.

Yuki could barely speak. Her lungs burned. Her vision blurred.

"Please," she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let me go. I beg of you."

In Rai's dorm, he felt uneasy.

Something was wrong. He couldn't explain it — just a gnawing, twisting sensation in his gut. He decided to take a walk, his footsteps quick and restless.

He walked across the pond.

And he saw the wickedness.

"Natsumi! Yuri!"

They turned sharply, releasing Yuki. Already unconscious, she crumpled forward and fell into the pond.

Rai's eyes blazed crimson. His power flared — shadows curling at his feet, the ground trembling beneath him.

"What is the meaning of this?!" he thundered.

Natsumi gripped his arm, her expression desperate.

"Rai, it was all Yuri's idea!" she lied. "She said we should get rid of the human girl!"

Rai looked down at her. His eyes glowed with cold fury.

"I thought I could find friends in both of you," he said, his voice ice. "But I was wrong. You're just a bunch of gold diggers who would do anything for fame." He pushed her. She fell to the floor. "Leave my presence before I wipe you two out of existence."

They ran like their lives depended on it. Which they did.

His glowing eyes softened. He looked at Yuki — broken, bleeding, barely breathing. His heart twisted.

"I cannot take her back like this," he whispered.

He lifted her gently, cradling her in his arms, and carried her to his dorm.

He attended to her wounds.

His hands were steady, precise, gentle — the hands of someone who had never been gentle with anything in his life. He cleaned the cuts, bandaged the bruises, pressed cool cloths to her swollen cheek.

She stirred.

"Where am I?" she murmured, her voice faint.

She tried to sit up. He pushed her shoulders down.

"Your wounds are too deep," he said, his voice rough. "Don't even think about it."

She turned her head.

"You."

He sat up, his upper body exposed. His shirt was gone. Her eyes flickered over his scarred chest.

"I told you to keep away from the heiresses," he said coldly. "But you didn't listen."

Regret and fear mixed together. She couldn't explain her feelings.

"If you had listened, you wouldn't be in this mess," he continued.

She wanted to say something, but something caught her voice.

"Well," she said finally, "I did take your advice. I was walking alone through the hall when they cornered me."

His face paled.

"I have a question," she said.

He looked at her like the human she was. "Sure, go ahead."

She pointed at his exposed body. "What happened to your shirt?"

He let out a sigh. "It's stained with blood. Your blood. I can no longer wear that shirt unless I'll be triggered to eat. The smell of blood irritates me."

His face filled with disgust.

"Once you're better," he said, "I'll take you back."

She looked at him. "Why do you always look serious? Loosen up a little."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You know," she continued, "have you ever played a game or something? Maybe with Takeda?"

He looked around nervously, then put his finger on his lips.

"Shhhh."

Suddenly, a knock on the door.

"Rai!"

It was Takeda.

"Dude, you've been there all day. Anyway, there's class today."

He left. Rai looked sick. He groaned.

"Are you okay, Rai?" Yuki asked.

He sighed. "There's class. We're going together."

She was shocked. "No need. I'll go myself."

He looked at her. "I don't mean go in at the same time. Like you go in first, then I come in later with Takeda."

She ran toward the door. "Don't worry. I'll leave you now."

He reached out to stop her, but she was gone.

"Why do I feel easy while I'm with her?" he whispered. "What is this?"

His gaze shifted to the bed where she'd been lying.

"Why does she seem so precious to me?" He sat clumsily on his bed. "What the hell is wrong with me?"

Yuki stopped running.

"Good thing I ran," she breathed, "or else things could have gone ugly."

A voice: "What will become ugly?"

She looked around helplessly. "Who is there?!"

He came out from the darkness — the Serpent Heir. His face already lacked color. He had dark blue-black hair and pale green pupils that were slit like a snake's.

"Wow," Yuki muttered. "Everybody just seems to love darkness."

"Do you happen to know a half-breed that bears the name Zan?" he asked, his voice flat.

"So what if I do?"

His eyes grew deadlier. "It will be a win-win plan for both of us. Hand him over, and I will make you stronger than any other being in the universe."

She giggled softly. "Are you sure you're a heir?" His expression changed. "Because if you were, you'd know that I will most likely decline your offer."

He smirked. "You're quite stubborn for a human."

She flirted with her hair. "I know. I've heard it over and over again. I take it as a compliment."

He laughed — cold and hollow. "If it were any other half-breed, they would rat him out. But you're not like them. I give you credit for that."

His face became serious.

"But I need his current location urgently."

She dropped the smile. "I'm sorry. I haven't passed by the half-breed dorm for a long time. There's no solid information I can hand over to you right now."

He sighed. "Fine then. Besides, I can already track him down."

She smiled. "Fine then. Do it. And stop blocking my path."

He turned around, walking away. "Now don't go being a snitch, okay?"

He faded into the darkness.

She let out an entire breath. "What a relief."

As she turned, she met a muscular figure behind her. He held her wrist tightly and pulled her close. Too close.

"I love the smell of vanilla," he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "It makes me feel good in the best way possible. And I'm going to enjoy every moment."

Yuki tried to break free. "Let go of me!"

It was...