Chapter 4: Faded

The sky was clear, its light blue colour with clouds that formed a pattern going across sparked a feeling of joy and tranquillity into whoever was around to view it. Children ran around, enjoying themselves on the outside with some catching small insects, others kicking balls here and there, some sitting on the hard pavement minding their own business and the adults who seldom cared about what their kids were off doing, as long as it brings no harm to themselves and the others around them.

The day was blissful and enjoyable for everyone. Everyone except the little girl who was forced to watch the other children run around and have fun while she couldn't. Her small hand rested upon the thin layer of glass that separated her from everyone else, her gentle nails making light taps upon it before she turned away from the window, a defeated look on her face.

"Why can't I join them?" she mumbled, arms folded and head down, her pink hair hanging off her forehead as it followed her head's movements.

"Don't ask silly questions, girl child," scoffed a relatively old man. The wrinkles on his skin, while they weren't defined, they were more than visible. He brushed his grey hair back before pulling a cigar out the top pocket of his tuxed and a lighter out one of the two pockets at his side, cupping his hands together in order to protect the flame he'd light it with, "Vampires don't mingle with humans unless it's dinner time."

A sigh left her small pink lips as she looked up at the man who spoke to her, a frown on her face while she contemplated her next words, "Yeah I get that... But they're having so much fun and I-"

"Corniellia, the humans are humans, we are vampires! And that's that," he said, taking the cigar out his mouth and puffing the smoke into the air. He glanced over to the girl and sighed, resting the cigar in the corner of his mouth as he stooped down to her level, resting his right palm on her head, "Look, I get it, I really do, you're lonely and I understand that, you want friends and I understand that. If you want company, you can always play with your brothers, but not the humans okay. Once they find out what you are, that'll be the end of you, and I'd rather not see my precious little girl dead okay?"

"I won't die!" Corniellia yelled, "I'm strong, you taught me how to be strong... I'll be fine."

"I don't doubt that one bit, I know you're strong, but there'll always be someone stronger and I'd rather it not be one of them."

"It's best to listen to him and just take it as he says it. You're not gonna change his mind," said a voice that sounded as if it were a young boy, coming from the entrance to the dark coloured and vast hallway. The boy stepped into the light being emitted by the window, his shiny blonde hair reflecting the very light that shone on him, a smile on his face as his red eyes shone bright enough to light up a portion of a room, "I should know. I complain to him the most out of all of us."

"That's nothing to take pride in Shouji," the man said while shaking his head. He stood from his crouched position, dusting the legs of his pants and extended a hand out toward young Corniellia who was standing before him, "However, as for you. Seeing that you claim to be lonely, come... Spend a bit of time with pops. Hopefully, that'll cheer you up."

***

"Sebastian?" Corniellia asked, slowly turning toward the voice she heard calling to her earlier. Tears swelled her eyes while she tried to wipe away the blood that dried onto her face, splattered randomly around her lips and cheeks, "I- It's not what it looks like."

Sebastian tightly gripped the daggers in his hands, biting down onto his lower lip as he contemplated his next move, "You have a minute... Start explaining."

"Okay, I-" she stuttered, frantically looking around the room for a means to get her out of the situation she was stuck in, "I didn't know she would still be alive... I thought she died of blood loss and... and I didn't feel a pulse... and she wasn't breathing... So I thought..."

Sebastian stepped up to where Corniellia was crouched, gently raising his hand before placing the dagger against her neck. The tears that had been building up in her eyes began to make their way out, slowly falling down her cheeks before she pleaded in a whisper, "Come on edgelord... Don't make me do this... I don't want to hurt you."

"No hard feelings... Just doing my job," Sebastian said, as he applied pressure to the dagger that was pressed against Corniellia's neck, however, she was no longer before him.

"It's not too late to put down the knife and let us talk this out," Corniellia said, now located behind Sebastian with both arms extended toward him hoping to show that she held no intention of harming him.

"Talk this out?" Sebastian asked as he turned to her, positioning himself in one of the several fighting stances he was taught, having both feet perpendicular to each other while his legs were apart, both hands tightly gripping onto the daggers as his body was faced away from where Corniellia stood, "You're a vampire, with the audacity to step behind our doors and pretend nothing's wrong. And now you want to talk things out? Even after how much you've disrespected our lives' work?"

"How stupid can you be!" she yelled, lowering her hands, "You think I want to be what I am? Don't you think I'd change it if I could?"

She sighed, running a hand through her hair before turning her back to him, "I went to the association because if anyone knows how to take this curse away from me, it would be them."

"Hold on," Sebastian said while leaving his fighting position and returning to a normal stance, "You don't want to be a vampire anymore?"

"Of course not! Do you know how horrible it is to live like this?!"

"Oh no, my dear sister, and I thought you were quite content to living this way," said a familiar voice from the darkness in the room. Stepping out the shadows was Shouji, his hands in his pocket as he approached Corniellia from behind, "You'd rather give up everything you have... Your lifespan, your power, your superiority, and for what? To mingle with the humans a bit? Pfft, please tell me you're joking," he scoffed, resting a hand on her shoulder.

Sebastian's eyes followed Shouji from the moment he entered the room, his body trembling with compressed anger as he remembered the events of the night both his parents were killed by the man before him. He had both daggers in his hands, but he adjusted them ever so slightly in a way that would prevent them from being seen, yet allow him to manipulate them easily. He placed a leg forward as if he was prepared to pounce, glancing at Corniellia before he carried out his action.

He pushed himself toward the area that Shouji stood, ready to strike, despite seeing Corniellia mouth the word 'no' right before his motion. He was confident in his ability to strike down the man before him and avenge his family, however in the blink of an eye, he was behind where Shouji stood, on all fours with his elbows and knees bruised and daggers missing.

"How rude of you, interrupting my conversation like that... Someone ought to teach you some manners."

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Stat Block

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Corniellia Kliver

Vampiric Ability: Blink

Description: Allows the user to instantaneously move themselves or something visible to them underneath a certain weight threshold from one location to the other within the user's line of clear sight.

Tier: B Tier

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Shouji Kliver

Vampiric Ability: ???

Description: ???

Tier: S Tier

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