Lingering Darkness

Chapter 2

Yui’s POV

Agitation.  That was the word that I could pluck from my thoughts at this very moment.  The journey here had not been pleasant by any means, and they were all agitated.  Myself, I was drowning once more in sorrow, wondering what was to become of me.  They had drank more than what I was capable of giving and I felt sick with weakness.  If not for that, I might have found this island beautiful and the mystery surrounding our visit here more interesting.  I stayed close to Subaru, my hand clutching his sleeve as we all walked from where the boat had docked. 

“What the hell are we doing here?” Ayato had asked that question for the thousandth time, and by now I could see the frustration ticking at Reiji.  His answer came in the form of sighs and shrugs, even as we continued together as a group towards the house.  Actually, I wouldn't call it a house, but a plantation.  One I had seen in books about American History, and I found the pictures of the old sugar plantations to be beautiful.  They were so unlike anything I had ever seen, and now as I looked up at this house it was like I was seeing it pop out from a colored photograph. “It’s beautiful.” I whispered, causing Subaru to look down at me.  He didn't speak, but looked ahead as he was trying to contemplate why we all were here. 

“We are being followed, I can smell her.” Laito spoke up with a laugh.  “How do you know it’s a woman?” Kanato whined in a perked voice.  Ignoring his brother, Laito continued, “Come out, come out.” By this time, Ayato had joined them.  “I smell her too.” A silence rested over the group, as I tried to strain my eyes, I could see movement in the darkness, but it was evident they seen her before I did.  

Ahead of me, I saw a small figure step into the light of flickering torches.  She was as short as me, if not maybe shorter.  I could not see her face clearly, but I could see the long flowing strands of dark hair that hung from her head.  The wind seemed to pick up, causing that hair to fly away from her shoulders.  I realized that she was nearly naked, and for a moment I felt my cheeks grow hot from embarrassment.   Her chest was bare, but about her hips hung what I thought was cloth made of animal fur. 

She had begun to walk towards us, and it was then that I realized that the boys had become silent.  I shot my gaze towards the triplets, then to Reiji who seemed utterly stiff.  His mouth was agape, and because of that, I gave a small laugh.  

“She’s weak..” The girl’s voice cut through the silent stares, and I realized that she was talking about me.  “You’ve made her sick.” Before I knew it, she was in front of me.  Perhaps I should have felt fear in those seconds, but there was something in her voice that comforted me.   I am not sure when I let go of Subaru’s shirt sleeve, but he had stepped away from us.  She had come too close, invading what personal space I had left, and as I bowed my head I realized that she was barefoot. 

“What is your name?”  She whispered, lifting her hands to gather on either side of my cheeks to force me to look at her.  “Yui..” I found my voice, but before I could say anything else, I could see her face coming closer and seconds later I felt her lips on mine, soft and plump.  It was a chaste kiss, one that could have come from a mother kissing her small child.  I am not sure why, but I felt stronger as she pulled away and took my hand in her own.   

“I want them to kiss again.” Kanto whispered, keeping his eyes on us both.  “I think we all do.” Laito spoke up as he pushed past his brothers in order to come towards us.  I could see the perversion already surfacing in his eyes and it made me shiver.  However, the girl ignored them all as she pulled me along behind her. “I am Tyran, they are expecting you.” I finally had a name to go along with the face.  

Yet, she stopped in front of Reiji, having to crane her neck to look up at him.  I had never seen him look at something in such disgust as he looked at this girl.  It made me wince knowing already what he thought of her.  “Do I offend your taste? Good.” Her voice was that same steady whisper, and as she rose up onto her tip toes, she slipped her free hand onto the side of his face.  “Delicious.”  Her words trailed away as did her hand.  Turning to face the others, she spoke aloud. “If you insist on playing with your food, then you need to take better care of her.”  She was talking about me, wasn’t she? 

“Come along Yui, I think my sister will want to meet you.” I followed behind her, and for the first time in a long time, I felt safe.  As I turned and looked behind me, I could see Reiji’s quiet fuming.  “Reiji doesn’t like you.” I found myself saying as I spoke to Tyran.  “He may not now, but he will later.” Was her retort.

“Hey pancake, come back here!”  I heard Ayato yelling at me, but for now I would ignore him.  As I stepped inside, following dutifully behind Tyran until she let go of my hand.  “Make sure Miss Yui has everything that she needs.  Oh, this is Muse, he takes care of us and he will take care of you as well, if you need anything simply ask him.” She had been talking to someone and as I fixed my eyes upon him, I had to take a step back from the site of him.  It was terrifying, but as I watched him, I realized that he had lifted his hand in gesture.  “He doesn’t speak, just tell him and he will do it.” 

By now, the rest of the group had joined us, and Subaru had come to fetch me to his side once again.  It seemed that I had finally come out of my stupor and really looked at Tyran.  I had forgotten that she was nearly naked, and as I watched her walk away I thought she looked like she could be the same age as me. There had been feathers woven into various braids in her hair, and what I thought looked like bone fragments.   It also looked like she had been playing in the dirt, for here in the light, she had patches of dried mud everywhere on her body.

“Oh.. Follow Muse, he will take you to where the others are, I’d rather not see the Bitch tonight.”  Her hand shot up in the air, waving as she vanished down a corridor.  “This is ridiculous.” Ayato seemed more than perplexed, but he was the first to start following the leather man.  Before too long, we were ushered into a large sitting room. 

 

“Welcome to Rose Hall.” 



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Laito’s POV

There were more of them? I know I heard her say sister when she talking to Yui, but my mind had been on the two of them kissing and it was hard for me to keep up with the conversation.  It wasn’t every day that I got to see Yui kissing another girl, let alone a naked one and the site was arousing.  This could be a grand punishment; I would have to ponder on this idea later.   

“Welcome to Rose Hall.” That voice roused me, turning to look where it came from.   To my left, I seen a fair haired girl sitting with a doll in her lap, she reminded me of Kanato.   The voice didn’t belong to her, and next my attention settled upon a woman who was seated near the window, a tall man standing behind her.  As though he caught my eyes looking at her, his hand slipped across her shoulder.  She belongs to him, eh? Pity, she was lovely, but that was not the owner of that voice.  “I am Jade Sjah.” There it was again, and this time I found its owner.  

Painfully, she reminded me of Cordelia.  It wasn’t that she looked like her, they were different.  But, they seemed to be cut of the same cloth.   She didn’t look any older than the others, but she carried herself in a more mature manner.   She was my type that much was obvious.  It suddenly hit me as to why we were here, and I had laugh in spite of myself.   Our father had chosen her as his new wife.  We shall see about that.   She shot her eyes towards me when I laughed.  I stepped towards her, taking her slender hand in my own, bringing it up to expose the soft flesh of her wrist and I watched her pulse jump. “Forgive me; I was not laughing at you.  I simply find this amusing.  You are the friend of our father?“ My words came out in a whisper, and I half expected her to pull away but her hand remained calm within my grasp. 

“I see what this is.” Reiji’s voice broke the spell, even as I was about to lick the sweet pulsing vein of her wrist.  It was only then that she jerked her hand away, turning to look at Reiji. “What do you see Reiji? I am correct; you are Reiji, aren’t you?”  She turned then to the others, saying their names in turn.  When it was finally my turn, her gaze returned to me and I could see myself reflected in the gold pools of her eyes.   She refused to say my name, even though it was there on the tip of her tongue.   With this, she turned back to Reiji, waiting for his response.  “Our father has chosen you as his fourth wife.”  

I watched her face, wondering how she would react to what my brothers had already guessed.  “I would never settle for fourth place, my dears.  Your assumption is wrong, I assure you.  I demand to be first in everything. “ She turned away from me, walking back to where she must have been sitting before we entered the room.  It was a couch, just big enough for one other person.  “Please, let us not be so formal. Have a seat, I wish to introduce you to my children.”  I knew where I was going to be sitting, though before I could get there, Ayato entered my field of vision.  It seemed that he had the same plans as me, but this I would not back down from.   However, I was wrong as Ayato took a seat near the woman and man at the window.  

I sat closer to her on purpose, wanting to see just how uncomfortable I could make her.   There was confusion written upon her face before she ignored me completely.    “I am Ashlar, and this is my twin.” It seemed the only other man in the room I did not know had finally spoken.  I was uninterested in what he was saying, but I did look in their direction.  The girl seemed to be uncomfortable, but I realized her discomfort was coming from her brother’s touch.  She slipped discreetly from beneath it, as she leaned over to smile to Ayato.  “I can speak for myself Ashlar.  You will have to excuse my brother, he is quite overbearing.  I am Samantha.” She didn't seem to be speaking to anyone other than Ayato.  The next voice of introduction was sweet, and it reminded me of Yui when she first came to us.   “Belinda. I am Belinda, and this is Muse!” I was suddenly taken aback by the creature that was lurking behind her. Where the hell did he come from? The girl was clutching his arm, while holding a doll in the other.  “Muse doesn’t speak, but I am sure that he is glad to make your acquaintances! “ She was trying her best to move away from Kanato who had taken a keen interest in the doll in her arm.  

“I hear that you all met my oldest child Tyran when you arrived.  She is a bit.. difficult, I apologize if she offended anyone.” Jade spoke with a sigh, looking firmly to Reiji as though she knew what that one had done to him.  It was then that I realized that Shu was missing, but it was a fleeting thought as I watched the one I was most interested in.  “I am sure that you all are wondering why you’re here.  I was simply asked by your father to allow you to stay here for a bit of time until he arrives.” I was watching her mouth as she spoke, though my attention lingered further down onto her neck and finally atop her breasts.  I wanted to sink my fangs there, taste the sweet blood that dwelled close to her heart. 

It was though she knew what I was thinking, turning slightly towards me and leaned closer as she continued to speak.  “And before you ask, I am not sure when he will be arriving; it could be a week or more. Until then, enjoy your stay with us, I am sure you will find us to be agreeable hosts.  Now, if you will excuse me, Muse will show you to your rooms when you are ready.” She sat up abruptly, and as I reached for her wrist she moved quickly from my reach.   “Belinda, come it’s time to return to your quarters.” She took her daughter’s hand, pulling her away from Kanato who seemed suddenly angry.  Before vanishing out the door, she casted a quick glance back to me and then to the dark creature. “Muse why don’t you show Laito to the southern quarters, he looks as though he needs a bed.” 

Then she was gone.  I wondered if the southern quarters were anywhere near her own.   I was sure to find out soon enough.   With nothing else to interesting to look at, I turned to the brother and sister.  The girl seemed to be talking quietly to Ayato.  “It’s time that we retire as well, Goodnight..” Ashlar slipped his hand beneath his sister’s arm and literally pulled her from the chair.  Before too long, we were alone in the room. 

“Muse, show me to those southern quarters the Lady spoke of.”