Chapter 11: Love and Death

Warning:

THIS CHAPTER WILL INCLUDE DEATH AND GORE. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Edward's Point of View:

It was early the morning, and we were entering history class. As usual, Eli and I entered earlier than the others and sat down in our normal seating. Normally, Miku sat with Eli and Brother sat with me. As Miku and Brother entered the classroom, Brother made his way to sit with me.

"Sit next to me, Miku!" I suddenly exclaimed, rapidly pulling her towards the empty seat next to me.

Eli and Brother both gave me a bewildered look. Seriously, although my sister may be smart in everything to know about, she was dull about relationships and love. Miku and I just sat there, with our matching grins on our faces. Brother gave us one last uneasy look at sat down next to Eli. As soon as their backs were turned, Miku and I high fived each other under the table.

"By the way, Edward…" Miku began, "Who did you bring to the ball?"

I sighed,

"Just keep this a secret ok?" I warned, and whispered the answer in her ear, and her eyes widened.

~~~~~~~~~~

GRAYSON:

Class finally ended, and I made my way towards our next class,

"Hey Grayson, Lady Eli!" Miku called out, "I need some help! Do you know where the cleaning cupboard is? I think I might've dropped something there by accident!"

"Hmm… It's over here, near our next class." Eli instructed, guiding Miku towards the cleaning cupboards, "Did you drop anything precious? I could've sworn you already knew where the cleaning cupboards wer-!"

"Sorry!" Miku and Edward beamed, seeming more like twins than Eli and Edward did.

They shoved us inside the awaiting cupboard, and giggled like crazy,

"Say 'hi' to the lonely fluffballs for me!" Miku laughed, giving us the 'thumbs-up'.

"I'll tell the teacher that you're too busy." Edward grinned with a wink, knowing him, he would actually do it, "Don't worry, they'll understand."

*BAM!"

The cupboard slammed shut, and we heard a spine-chilling click of the lock.

"D-did… they LOCK us in here!?" Eli stuttered, still lying on the floor.

"Wait a moment…" I replied, groping around the walls for the light switch.

*Click!*

The lights flicked on and I instinctively glanced at Eli. She was sitting, with her knees towards her chest, her face ablaze with crimson.

"H-huh?" I gasped, fretting about Eli, "Do you have a fever."

I reached for her forehead and could've sworn she flushed an even darker scarlet colour.

"I'm fine!" Eli confirmed, gently swatting my hand away.

"Oh, okay then." I sighed with relief, turning around to see if there were anything soft to sit on.

I heard a screeching noise, and I whipped around to see Eli dragging a snapped broom across the smooth floor to create a barrier between us.

Was it just me, Eli's ear bright red?

"Don't pass this line." Eli simply requested stiffly and buried herself as far as possible into the corner.

Ouch.

Was I that ugly today? I did I smell bad?! Uwaaa! I didn't want Eli- Hang on. When did I start caring about my presentation when I was around Eli?

I felt my cheeks burn.

~~~~~~~~~~

We had been talking for a while when the door clicked and sunlight streamed in.

"Oh… Have you not even kissed yet?" Edward asked bluntly, looking disappointed and shaking his head.

"How… good of you." Miku tsked, with disgust and disapproval in her eyes.

Eli and I looked away, synchronised, our cheeks flaming with crimson splotches.

~~~~~~~~~~

As we were finishing the day, we saw a brawny student come up to us,

"Are you the rumoured prodigy wizard?!" He spat, "Well, looks like rumours aren't always correct, I heard you were attractive! You aren't even decent-looking!"

Ouch. A stab in my heart.

"It was nice knowing you." Miku saluted solemnly.

"Have fun dying." Edward shook his head with sympathy,

"What do you say?!" Eli thundered, balling her hands in fists.

I felt a pang of sympathy for the student and held Eli's hand as I dragged her away, blushing as I held her hand.

"W-what?!" Eli stuttered; her cheeks tinted with a pink lustre.

"See you!" I waved to the paralysed male student.

"Awww!" Miku and Edward cooed behind us, "They're holding hands!"

~~~~~~~~~~

MIKU:

"Come to think about it…" I muttered offhand to Lady Eli one day, "Grayson's becoming quite popular with the girls lately. I overheard some girls in the bathroom giggling about him the other day…"

Whoops!

Lady Eli stiffened and balled her hands into fists,

"That's nice." Lady Eli smiled delicately, with a shadowy aura crowding around her, "Did you know who they were?"

Kyaaa! Was this bloodlust I was experiencing!?

"Uhm…" My eyes darted across the gardens, finally realising I had made the perfect opportunity, "Well, I suppose this means you need to up your game! You need to confess to him before any other girl reaches him!" I smirked and elbowed her.

"Huh?! C-confess?!" Lady Eli spluttered, attempting to hide her burning cheeks with her hands.

"Yup!' I proudly announced, "Confessions, love in the air, hugs and kiss- those are part of the relationship you and Grayson will have when he accepts your confession!"

"That's right, sis!" Edward chirped, popping his head from the bushes,

"H-huh?!" Lady Eli stuttered, "When did you get here?! And where's Grayson?"

"At his magic tutoring," Edward replied, "Anywaaay! Let's start planning your confession!"

~~~~~~~~~~

EDWARD:

"And…! Take one begins!" I announced from behind the berry bush,

"Take one…?" Miku asked tentatively, "Shouldn't Lady Eli only need one attempt to confess…?"

"You think too highly of my sister." I sighed, "Do you think she'll be able to do it in the state she's in right now?"

I pointed at Eli, who was shaking with nerves and almost illuminated with a red glow from her cheeks.

"Good point." Miku agreed dryly.

As soon as Brother walked out of his magic tutoring, he spotted Eli,

"Oh, hi Eli." Grayson greeted with a cheery smile.

"I-I l-love lo-la-lav…!" Eli stuttered, shuffling her feet on the ground, "Er… I LOVE LAUBRADORS!"

With that being said, Eli did a turn and sprinted off.

"What an anti-climate." Miku commented sardonically, "Lady Eli will eventually succeed!"

I couldn't say anything, I buried my face in my heads and shook with silent laughter, tears rolling down my face.

~~~~~~~~~~

MIKU:

"Lights! Camera! Actiooon!" I proclaimed, "Take twooo!"

Two days later, Lady Eli was back to (attempt) confess to Grayson!

"Hmm Grayson…?" Lady Eli muttered stiffly as soon as he came out of his class, "I l-like you."

"I like you too Eli!" Grayson smiled happily, "You're one of my first friends after all!"

"Um not that type of 'like'…" Lady Eli flushed an even darker crimson and darted off.

"Hmm?" Grayson raised an eyebrow, confused.

"This is just getting painful now." Edward confessed, massaging his forehead.

~~~~~~~~~~

EDWARD:

"And…" Miku and I chorused, "Take three!"

"Let's be hopeful, after all, third time's the lucky charm." I smiled with a wink.

"That reminds me, have you confessed to who you like yet?" Miku asked.

I blushed and shook my head.

As we watched Eli stutter another confession of love, we both shook our heads pathetically.

"I think we may have to do more meddling this time." I sighed with disappointment as Eli ran away again.

~~~~~~~~~~

GRAYSON:

It was near the end of the semester, and the holidays were coming soon. Edward and Miku had proposed to have a dance competition with matching smirks. Apparently, everyone would do dancing on the dance room, the final person who could still dance with their partner, won.

"Go off and ask your mysterious crush." Miku smirked at Edward.

Edward flushed,

"I-t's not like I love her or anything!" He stuttered.

"Sure." Miku mocked. "Why don't you ask Lady Eli, Grayson? I don't feel like dancing tomorrow." She beamed innocently at us.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Come on Lord Grayson! I betted my money on you!" Someone from the crowd roared.

Eli and I were the final couple dancing, and we were still dancing to see who would finally give up.

"GOOO LADY ELIANNA!" Some squeals came from the corner of the room.

As we finally twirled around the room, my legs gave out, luckily, Eli caught me before I fell…

"YES!" About half of the room celebrated while the other half groaned.

I felt the mood of the ball room and decided it was the right timing,

"Eli…" I smiled, "I like you."

Eli's amber eyes widened, and whispers filled the hall,

"Their love reminds me of Lady Ivory and the Crown Prince from the neighbouring country!"

"That reminds me… Didn't they come to visit the Academy just last week?"

"This is just too cuteee!"

Just as Eli blushed, shyly looked away and opened her mouth, a bang echoed through the ballroom.

"STUDENTS!" A teacher screamed, "GET OUTSIDE! CARRIAGES ARE AWAITING YOU! ANTI-NOBLE FACTIONS ARE COMING INSIDE AND ARE GOING TO KILL EVERYONE! STAY CALM AND USE THE SECRET PASSAGES!"

Screams filled the whole room as everyone pushed everyone aside as they hurried. Eli and I were separated from the crowd.

"Brother!" I found Edward pop up beside me. "Let's go! Eli will find Miku and they'll be fine!"

That's right. I had seen Miku make her way to Eli. Things would be fine. Eli could protect herself and Miku.

"RUN!" I shouted to Edward.

~~~~~~~~~~

ELI:

"LET'S GO!' Miku shrieked, dragging me along with her.

I blinked and pushed my fear to the back of my head.

"RUN!" I screamed, pulling Miku behind me as we sped off.

"The closest secret passage is this way!" Miku yelled as we ran together.

Fear. Anxiety. Those emotions filled my heart.

Suddenly, Miku's hand felt heavier.

"Miku…?" I turned to see a slender sword prodding out of Miku.

Blood… so much blood. Blood trailed from Miku onto the floor, making a crimson river. I whipped around and punched the attacker.

We battled for a few minutes, until I pulled a dirty trick, tripped them, and knocked them unconscious.

I heard more running footsteps from more attackers coming our way.

"Run." Miku wheezed, clutching her stomach, her hands coated in blood.

"No!" I exclaimed frantically, "You're coming with me! We're right in front of the entrance!"

"Hehe…" Miku giggled, "I don't think I'll last the next two minutes… Goodbye… Lady Eli."

Miku managed to gather enough strength to push me through the entrance and shoved the door close. I felt her body hit the door, blocking the doorway to gain me some time and blocking me from reopening the door.

"My last wish for you Lady Eli…" Miku declared, "Is for you to survive and live happily. Don't make me die in vain."

I heard the distant shing of the swords outside. I wanted to puke. I just had to focus on surviving, that was what Miku wanted after all.

"Goodbye Miku." I replied, my tears plopping to the floor.

I sprinted, the energy in my legs fuelled by my rage of her death.

I would run.

For Miku.