Chapter 24

Clouds obscured the moon, almost like it was a symbol of the path of this love. I stared at you desperately, trying to see into you like I was trying to see the moon. I want to understand what you're thinking. But…The idea of changing the future of a destroyed world seemed too fantastical, too unrealistic. No matter how much I tried to imagine it, I couldn't put myself in Vlad's shoes to understand why he was doing all of this. His crimson eyes looked savage for a split second, staring so intently into mine it was like he could see my destiny.

Vlad

"Do you want to see?" "Do you want to see the end of the world?"

Kira

"What do you mean?"

Vlad

"You might not believe me, but I have the power to show you."

Flashback

Gabriel

"...He has the power to compel people."

Flash Ends

Kira

"You mean, you can compel me to see it?"

Vlad

"..." "Ahaha. Le Comte really isn't fair. Why did he have to go and spoil it?" "But yes, he's right. I have the power to control people's minds. But what I'm talking about doing to you is different." "I'm going to share my memories with you."

His elegant fingertips fluttered before my eyes, as if they could control the entire world.

Vlad

"I'm going to show you my memories. I want you to know what I saw."

He slipped an arm around my waist and pulled me towards him, so close our noses could touch.

Kira

"…Vlad…"

Vlad

"Don't worry. I'll hold you. So just look."

His crimson eyes darkened for a split second, and then he slowly covered my eyes.

Vlad

"...Sleep. Sleep on the edge of dreams."

My consciousness felt heavy, like I was being pulled into a deep sleep. I began to feel lighter and opened my eyes. This…This is the future that Vlad saw… The wind was saturated with sand as it whipped my cheeks. I slowly placed my hands on the cracked, dry ground and stood up. There was no blue sky. It was covered by a thick, cold gray. It was completely silent and devoid of sound like I was in some kind of vacuum tube...It doesn't seem like anyone's even alive. And not just people--there was no trace of birds, grass or trees, or any other sign of life. There was just…..nothingness. This can't be true… It can't be real… I could hear the sound of my own heartbeat thumping in my ear. I opened my mouth and said in a hoarse voice.

Kira

"...Someone!" "Is anyone there? Anyone?!"

My trembling voice reached no one. It disappeared vainly into the lead-colored world. But I wanted to believe it was all just a lie. I wanted to cling onto hope, so I started running. But…No matter how far I ran, the same dreary, empty landscape stretched out as far as I could see. I looked everywhere I could think of, but found nothing. There was really, really nothing left…it was the end of the world. I was suddenly seized by an overwhelming sadness and devastating hopelessness. I sat there, trembling pitifully on the parched earth, but there was no one to extend a helping hand. There's nothing. There's no one. Everything..has disappeared.

Kira

"I don't want this... Please... Someone help me!"

I squeezed my eyes shut to escape from this horrible world and suddenly- Color came to the leaden sky and a peaceful feeling surrounded my body.

Vlad

"Welcome back, Kira."

Vlad was holding me tightly in his arms, anchoring me to this world and comforting my trembling body. I'm back…? It felt like I'd just woken up from a terrible nightmare I couldn't forget. My heart felt dark and cold. I took several deep breaths, trying to regain my composure as I stared into Vlad's eyes.

Kira

"What I saw just now…"

Vlad

"Yes. It's exactly what I saw when I used the door to travel to the distant future." "That is the ultimate fate of this world."

The world I'm looking at right now continues onto the time when I was born. And yet far into the future, this world would be destroyed and end up as that empty, barren landscape I saw.

Kira

"How did it get to be like that?"

Vlad

"The result of too many wars, and chemical weapons being used in each one of them. It's the price humans paid for their sins."

Kira

"..." "So if we do nothing and the world goes on as normal…"

Vlad

"Yes. It will lead to the world that you saw."

His vibrant eyes peeking out from the silky strands of his hair were focused intently on me.

Vlad

"Kira, I don't want that to be our future." "I want the world to be a place where vampires and humans, and all the living creatures can be happy and peaceful." "That is my dream, and I have to make it come true. I will, with my own two hands, no matter what."

He held out his hand and closed it, as if to grasp something. Even if that's the future waiting for us, I just can't imagine that one person can change it. It seems impossible. I saw it with my own eyes. Any hope of changing the future was stolen away from me when I saw that devastated world. How can one person do anything when the world is so vast? But Vlad…He saw the same thing I did, and he vowed to change it no matter what.

Kira

"Vlad" "You don't care who gets sacrificed, as long as it changes the future?"

Vlad

"..." "That's right." "I'm not so naïve or foolish as to believe that I can change the world without giving up something."

I wanted to understand, so he showed me what he had seen. And it filled me with a sense of devastation and hopelessness I'd never known before--like being pushed off a cliff into an abyss. I'm terrified of that future. It makes me feel like I should do something. I don't want that future to be reality. But…I don't think I could sacrifice someone else and choose the future over them, either. I wasn't confident that that was the right choice. Even though I'd been the one who wanted to understand, the more I learned, the more confused I got. It felt like all the values I'd built up throughout the course of my life were meaningless. My world had been flipped upside down. Vlad... You're so close to me I can feel your warmth. And yet you feel so far away. He was watching me carefully as I processed all of this, and then spoke in a voice as sweet as sugar.

Vlad

"What do you think, Kira?"

Of course I didn't have an answer for him. He smiled faintly at me.

Vlad

"I suppose it's a bit cruel to ask you for an answer so soon."

He never looked away from me. Vlad had cut down people's lives in order to try to protect the world, yet here he was staring at me like I was all he needed. I felt so confused beneath his intense gaze, but his beautiful smile pulled me in…

Vlad

"Kira, I…"

All of a sudden he rested his forehead against my chest.

Vlad

"I love this world... To the point of madness." "So I want to do everything I can to change the future and protect it." "I don't want anything else. I can't. Except...except for one thing." "There is one thing I refuse to let go."

He wrapped his arms around my waist more tightly.

Vlad

" I want you to be by my side."

His cool, flowing voice and his warmth felt the same as ever. I was standing on the precipice of a major decision, wavering back and forth, but he was as steady as he'd ever been. He remained frighteningly the same even after his true identity and his ambitions were revealed. That's what I'd thought, anyway. So why…Why…? Why were his fingertips trembling on my waist? It felt like the emotions he'd hidden deep inside of him were slowly seeping out through his fingertips. Why did it take me so long to sense your sadness? The very first day I saw you standing there in the snow, I thought how sad and lonely you looked. And as we spent more time together, I wished I would find out the reason why you were so sad. I tried so hard but I never could figure It out. So why am I picking up on his sadness now? Vlad slowly pulled away from me and gazed deeply into my eyes.

Vlad

"Will you come with me?"

Kira

"…Vlad."

Vlad

"Please come with me, Kira."

When he calls my name like that, I want to take his hand. But…Vlad clasped my hand tightly, like he was trying to embrace my heart itself. Just then…

???

"You have some nerve trespassing onto my property late at night without my permission."

A long overcoat fluttered in the night breeze as I heard footsteps approach.

Kira

"Comte...!"

Gabriel

"Come, Kira."

Le Comte grabbed my arm and ushered me behind him as if to protect me from Vlad.

Vlad

"Hello, Comte. It always surprises me how you always look the same and never change."

Gabriel

"You're one to talk, Vlad."

Vlad

"I didn't feel your presence. Where were you?"

Gabriel

"Why should I tell you?"

Vlad

"Ahaha. You're being so cold! That doesn't suit your kind personality."

Gabriel

"…..Vlad."

Vlad

"Hm?"

Gabriel

"I know that you haven't given up on your ambitions, and I know exactly what you're trying to do."

Vlad

"I see."

Gabriel

"So let me make myself clear. I will not allow you to hurt my family."