Not Again

-----Yui's POV

Natalie: "Then-"

Suddenly, the same stinging pain I felt in my chest grew stronger causing my knees to become weak in the process.

Natalie: "E-Ellen?!"

Thank to Natalie, I didn't end up falling to the ground as I was now being held up by her. I grip onto her clothes for some comfort, the same way she did when she gripped my hair earlier. Is this what I think it is? I thought the pain I was feeling was due to her story, but could it actually be happening again?

Natalie: "Ellen. What's wrong?!"

I need Kaede, right now... I know this pain would disperse the moment she would come near, but she's all the way back at the dorms. Wasn't I fine yesterday when I came home? So why today? What's different? I could try fighting the pain and run all the way back to the dorms, but as I think that, I still can't manage to move my legs as they grow weaker by the second.

Yui: "...L-leave"

Natalie: "What?"

Yui: "Leave."

I struggle to make proper sentences, so I resort to just say the one word. If I'm about to lose myself, I for sure don't want to hurt Natalie.

Natalie: "After all that talk just before? I may not have given an answer, but should you really push your friends away when you're clearly hurting?"

Great. Now guilt is piling on top of me as I fight this pain that's spreading throughout my body. Maybe if I didn't confess to wanting to be friends with her, maybe she would've actually left. Damn...

Natalie: "Come on. Let's lay you down."

I'm actually quite surprised at how well I'm managing, but it might be due to Natalie holding most of my weight.

She gently sits me down on the bed before gently laying me down.

Natalie: "Stay right here. I'll go and-"

I feel her try and pull away, but my grip around her tightens, causing her to remain where she is. With her this close, I find my eyes locking onto a sliver of skin that's peaking out around her neck. In an attempt to snap out of it, I close my eyes tightly.

Natalie: "E-Ellen? I need to go get help!"

She still tried to break free, but after failing to break free of my hold, she quickly gives up and I feel the tension around my hands loosen.

Natalie: "...What's wrong?"

Yui: "Ka-"

My throat feel unbelievably dry as I struggle to even make a single word now. Feels like all the moisture has left my body as I feel sweat slipping down my face.

Natalie: "You're sweating bullets... You were fine before, so it can't be a-"

Yui: "Kaede."

Natalie: "Kaede? Who's that?"

I finally manage to get the most important word out. Hearing Natalie figure out it was a person was enough for me. Kaede's name is strange in this world, so It'd be easy to find her. Feeling at ease, I let go while keeping my eyes closed. Even just saying Kaede's name seemed to have put me at ease somewhat.

My heart begins to calm down at the thought of Kaede coming. Mom met her, so If Natalie just goes to mom she'll be able to figure out where to go. My breathing becomes stable now at the thought of Kaede coming.

Natalie: "-en"

Is that Natalie? Wasn't she meant to be going to find Kaede? I open my eyes, hoping to see that I was mistaken, however the moment I open my eyes, I find myself latched onto someone's neck as a new taste fills my mouth. It's intoxicatingly sweet as I continue to drink whatever this is.

Natalie: "E-Ellen."

My mind finally catches up to what's happening as I realize that I've pinned Natalie down on her back while drinking her blood.

Natalie: "I-it hurts... Ellen."

I desperately try to move away from her neck, but my body doesn't move at all. It feels like a dream as I watch my body do as it pleases as more of this delicious taste fills my mouth. "Come on body! Move!" I can't believe what I'm doing right now. I've just attacked Natalie, and despite my attempts, my body's continuing to thirst for her blood as I dig my fingers into her clothes.

Natalie: "Ell-"

Her voice fills my ears as I can hear just how much she's in pain. Her voice trembling as it causes my chest to tighten. I feel tears immediately begin to pour from my eyes as I try desperately to fight back against my body. Then, with one finally attempt, I close my eyes before forcefully yanking my body away from Natalie, like ripping a band aid from a wound. It was then that I saw Natalie's face. Her face was filled with fear and sadness as tears also begin to drip down from her cheeks.

Yui: "I'm-"

Natalie: "Y-your eyes..."

Yui: "..."

She cuts me off as I'm about to speak, but her words fills me with anxiety. I can only assume she's talking how my eyes have changed, just like what Kaede told me. I close my eyes before turning my head in shame, not wanting her to look at me any longer. I'd like to just run out of my room, but it took all my effort to just get away from Natalie's neck as I remain on top of her.

Natalie: "...Ellen?"

Yui: "Don't look at me."

It's disgusting. All that pain I was feeling is now slowly subsiding, making me feel that what I did was the correct decision. Is this how Kaede feels? A monster?

Even with my eyes closes, tears still manage to squeeze past my eyelids as my tears continue to stain my face before dripping down onto Natalie.

Natalie: "..."

The silence stings just as bad as the pain earlier. I fucked up... I wouldn't be surprised if she runs away and no longer works here, I don't blame her. Who'd want to work at a place with someone like me inside.

Just as I felt energy coming back into my body, I finally am able to move to get off of Natalie. But she grabs hold of my hand before I could act.

Natalie: "Wait."

Yui: "Let go."

I keep my eyes closed mainly due to not wanting her to see my eyes, but also because I don't want to see her face right now. I'm scared what kind of expression she has.

Natalie: "No. I'm not letting you run away."

Yui: "Why?! I just did something horrible to you. I'm-"

Natalie: "It was out of your control, wasn't it?"

Yui: "..."

Natalie: "Why else would you react like this. You're crying even more than me."

So she's still crying? I'm very sorry Natalie! But can't you just let me go?

Natalie: "Tell me... What happened?"

I guess there's no way around it. I planned to just run away, but with Natalie asking for an explanation while holding me back, there's no way round it. Sure I could just force myself away, but I don't want to hurt Natalie more than I already have.

I timidly turn back for face her before opening my eyes. My blurry vision slowly sharpens as I could see her face. She no long was crying, but I could still the remains of tears all over her cheeks.

Natalie: "Huh? Your eyes."

Yui: "They're red, right?"

Natalie: "N-no. They were, but they're back to normal."

I see. For a moment I thought maybe my eyes would remain like that. It's relieving to hear that I've returned somewhat back to normal.

Natalie: "...So what was all that about? Why did you suddenly force me down and bite into my neck?"

Yui: "I'm sorry. I swear I had no control over it!"

Natalie: "Mm. I figured that out already."

She speaks so calmly even with her pale complexion, yet I'm frantic over my words. How can she be calm after what I just did?

Yui: "You'd hate me if found out. If you don't already hate me that is."

Natalie: "Does it have something to do with that Kaede person?"

Wait. Did I bring up Kaede? Again, my memory is a bit fuzzy but after thinking for a moment, I do recall needing Kaede. Maybe I accidently spoke my thoughts out loud? However, I should be honest and not keep Natalie waiting any longer.

Yui: "Yes. When I went to Azalea, something happened to me. We're still figuring things out, but so far, we've found out that I need blood in order to live."

Natalie: "That sound like... a vampire."

Yui: "...Yes. But when Kaede is around, the pain I feel dissipates."

Natalie: "Huh?"

Yui: "I know. It's strange."

I don't really want to go into too much detail as I don't want to reveal Kaede's secret to someone. But with Natalie's curious gaze staring my way, I don't think she'll be happy with just this. I take a moment to breathe in deeply, before exhaling, flushing out all my nerves.

Yui: "I'll explain more later, but to put it briefly... I- well... drank some of Kaede's blood, not knowing what would happen. I almost died several times, but my body eventually stabilized. At least to the extent you see now."

Natalie: "What? What's wrong with Kaede's blood? Nearly died?"

Yui: "Kaede's... a half vampire."

Natalie: "..."

She looks confused at what I just said, but I choose to continue even with her grasp on my hand beginning to loosen.

Yui: "I'll let Kaede explain better, but she's a human, just like the rest of us. Or at least, she want's to be... As for me... We're still figuring that out. As far as we know, the only change to me is what you just... Experienced."

Natalie: "This is-"

Yui: "I know. I'm sorry. I never wanted for this to happen"

Natalie: "Does your mother know about this?"

Yui: "...No. I was planning on telling her once I figure all of this out."

Natalie: "I think it'd be best to let her know immediately."

With everything she's got on her plate right now? I don't think that's a good idea.

Natalie: "...Ellen. You have to tell her this."

Yui: "..."

Natalie: "I'll tell her if-"

Yui: "Okay! I'll tell her...'

Natalie: "Good."

She smiles at me, causing mixed emotions to run through my body. The taste of her blood still lingers in my mouth which leads my eyes to wander over to her neck. I've only ever attacked Kaede like this and she immediately heals it, but with Kaede not here, I get to see exactly what I did. Unlike Kaede who has fangs that make a clean entry, the bite mark on Natalie's neck is that of a human's, with a large gash causing blood to pour out, drenching the bedsheets in blood.

Yui: "Y-your neck!"

Natalie: "You really got me good, hehe. Might even leave a scar."

Kaede is the only one I know who can heal scars, so if it does come to that, I'll ask Kaede to heal it. But if possible I'd like to heal it now. With how I am right now, I can easily make my way back to the dorms.

Yui: "Kaede can heal it!"

Natalie: "S-she can?"

Yui: "Yes! She's a light user after all. Let's go."

Natalie: "W-wait-"

I grab my handkerchief out from my pocket to hand over to Natalie who immediately begins to cover her wound with it. It's not much, but it should be enough until we get to Kaede.