HE stood alone amid the pools of blood. Not a single emotion flickered on his face as he looked at Azusa. With his black hair and trench coat billowing in the wind, he looked nothing short of the grim reaper standing in dominion over the headless corpses of the dead. For some reason, Azusa didn’t feel afraid of him. If anything, an indescribable sense of nostalgia welled-up inside her upon seeing his red eyes.
✦ ✦ ✦
AZUSA opened her heavy eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. She looked around the room from where she lay on a bed. The room was of such splendor she thought, Is this what a noble’s room looks like in Europe?
Expensive-looking furniture and fixtures furnished the spacious room. Several long seconds later, she noticed the canopy hanging above her. A chandelier lit the room.
“Where am I?”
“Are you awake? I’m coming in.”
“Huh? Oh, okay!” Azusa answered quickly upon hearing a vaguely familiar voice outside the door.
The door opened revealing a friendly young man with feline eyes. Azusa gasped upon seeing his fluffy brown hair. The mist clouding her mind cleared a little.
“Th-The kidnapper—”
“I’m on the side that rescued you though.” He smiled wryly.
“Oh, I’m sorry! Thank you very much for that!” Azusa quickly bowed her head.
Right, I owe him my life!
“No need for thanks. Saving you was my job. Besides, we’re not much different from them.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m Subaru. I hope we can get along, Azusa.”
Azusa shook the hand he held out to her. And then it dawned on her.
“Um, how do you know my name?”
“I’ll explain things in order for you. But before that...you guys can come in now!” Subaru shouted at the door. A woman with her hair tied back in a ponytail entered the room. She had almond eyes set in an androgynous face. Pure-white clothing with a stand-up collar complimented both her tall height and long legs. Directly behind her was—
“Dad!”
“Azusa!”
Azusa’s father. He wore a battered white robe and his hair was unkempt. His eyes filled with tears behind his fogged-up glasses. He ran over to Azusa and hugged her.
“Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere? Did they do anything to you?”
“I-I’m okay! I’m not hurt. Subaru saved me after all!”
“I see! Thank goodness. I’m so relieved… I’m sorry. I am so sorry. Azusa, I—”
“D-Dad?! What’s wrong?”
Her dad buried his face in her shoulder and sobbed. Azusa was flustered from seeing her dad cry for the first time. Subaru watched them with a sidelong glance as he continued the conversation.
“Let me introduce you. This beautiful lady right here is Ichi. She’s your bodyguard,” Subaru said pointing to the woman with a ponytail. The woman gave a slight nod in response. Then Subaru pointed to Azusa’s dad crying on her shoulder. “And the man crying on your shoulder is…the person who created you per the Blue Coven’s orders and is responsible for the crime of abducting you.”
Time stopped. Azusa couldn’t comprehend a single thing he said. What did she need a bodyguard for? What did he mean she was created? Who abducted who?
“What are you talking about?”
“Do you believe in vampires?” His eyes were dead serious.