Chapter 27

Gabriel

"That's what a single red rose symbolizes. 'Only you'"

looked at the battered red rose. It almost seemed to be glowing with the last traces of its life.

Kira

"But Vlad said that he just brought me the most beautiful flower in his garden…"

Gabriel

"Since Vlad was locked up in his mansion for most of his childhood, he had a lot of time to spare." He told me there was a book there, with the names of all the flowers in the world and what they meant, and he memorized it." "...He wouldn't give you a flower without thinking of its meaning, Kira."

I know... He taught me all about flowers and their meanings, with that soft smile on his face.

Flashback

Vlad

"Go to her before they wilt. Gerberas symbolize hope and progress." "So have hope, and take a step forward."

——

Vlad

"They're clematises." "They're often planted by the entrances of inns, to comfort weary travelers." "The clematis symbolizes a traveler's happiness."

Flashback Ends

He gave me a rose that meant "Only you" and then desperately clung to me, his fingers trembling. I don't want to get the wrong idea, but it almost makes me feel like...I'm special to Vlad. And that maybe, just maybe, I can move his heart. But…I know very clearly that he won't give up on his determination to change the future. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of emotions. I heard le Comte say in a husky voice,

Gabriel

"…Haha. I tried to help but I think I might've just confused you even further."

Kira

"...Comte."

Gabriel

"The morning after his family was killed, Vlad came to see me, all by himself." "He didn't say a word. He just smiled at me and then disappeared." "The same thing happened the day he saw the end of the world. He gave me a vague smile and then disappeared." "…I'm always losing sight of him."

After I left le Comte's room, I didn't feel like going back to my bedroom, so Iwent out on the balcony. My head was swimming with the stories of Vlad's past. It seemed like some kind of fairytale. looked down at the red rose in my hand. Vlad mercilessly cuts down diseased flowers in order to protect the other flowers. He cares for the future so much he'll do anything to protect it, including sacrificing people if need be. And he knows full well that other people won't understand why, because they haven't seen what he's seen. His emotions are so pure they can be sharp and cruel like a knife. I don't know what's the right or wrong answer here, and I know I shouldn't come to a conclusion too quickly. But there was one thing I did know. If many people have to be sacrificed, saving the future will be in vain. Taking people's lives, even if it's to protect others, has to be wrong, no matter what. Also… Would Vlad really be satisfied knowing how many people had to pay the price for the world to be saved? If I'm not just being optimistic, then Vlad thinks he needs me. But I'm not enough to change him. I was frustrated at how useless I felt, and I remembered that one night…

Flashback

Vlad

"A long, long time ago I was feeling so hopeless I wanted everything to end, even my life." "And then she saved me." "But she disappeared. I searched all over for her, but I could never find her."

Flashback Ends

Vlad has been searching for someone for a very long time. She saved him from a hopelessness so dark he thought his life was over. The promise he exchanged with her, and her warmth, had sustained him for this long. That person meant everything to Vlad. She was like a protective charm to him. Maybe she would be able to save Vlad from his twisted love. But he's been searching for her for a very long time without any clues. She could be anywhere. And if she's a human then…Then she probably passed away a long time ago. I wish I would've been the girl in the portrait with no face. Then I could save his heart one more time. I bit my lip trying not to cry, when suddenly I felt something cold upon my cheek. looked up at the sky. Fluffy snowflakes like feathers from an angel's wing were slowly floating down. Tomorrow was December 24th…

_____

...It was Christmas Eve. It was still snowing from last night. The layers of pure white covering everything in sight just kept growing by the minute even as night fell. There was an air of tension in the mansion because of what happened with Vlad. I was washing the dinner dishes when Sebastian said from beside me.

Sebastian

"Kira. Tomorrow is finally Christmas. We need to get ready for the party."

Kira

"What?"

Sebastian

"Our job is to protect the residents' health and well-being, and to make their time here enjoyable." "That doesn't change, no matter what's going on around us, right?"

His eyes glinted with mischief and I realized what he was trying to say.That's right... It's important at times like these to find things to do.

Sebastian

"Now, what kind of Christmas party shall we have?"

Kira

"Wine, champagne, beer-- let's break out all the booze!"

Sebastian

"I'm a bit worried at how trashed the mansion will be the next day, but what's Christmas for if not for partying?"

Sebastian and I began planning out the preparations for our Christmas party.

Markus

"Kira, Sebas... Sorry to interrupt, but can you come to the dining room right away?"

Sebastian and I exchanged glances then hurried to the dining room, where everyone was waiting.

Kira

"What is it?"

Vincent

"Theo found a letter in front of the front door." "There was nothing written on the envelope, so he opened it."

Theo

"Then I went straight to le Comte."

Le Comte held up the letter, an impassive expression on his face as he read It.

Gabriel

"Come to the church at midnight tonight. I have a Christmas present for you. Show me your true worth." "This is from Vlad, I'm sure."

Dezaki

"So he's going to play Santa Claus and give us presents?"

Jayme

"I highly doubt it's going to be a good present."

Issac

"…What in the world could it even be?"

Arthur

"He's searching for someone very influential who can help influence humans' thoughts." "In other words, he doesn't need anyone weak. That's why he summoned Nicholas's archenemyWellington here." "Plus, the letter says he wants all of us to come. In other words…"

Lennon

"He's revived every last one of our archenemies. What a Christmas present…"

...He's revived their archenemies and is going to make them fight each other?

Markus

"But I thought the door was broken? That's why Kira couldn't go home."

Lennon

"He revived Wellington, didn't he? The space beyond the door must be cycling between being normal and warped." "Don't you think, Comte?"

Le Comte nodded quietly. Nicholas had a sorrowful expression on his face as he murmured.

Nicholas

"...We weren't revived so we could bloody our hands again."

...I can't... I can't bear to see them like this. Iran out of the dining room into the snowy garden. I knew that this would happen eventually. But deep in my heart I was hoping that he would give it up. Now those hopes had been dashed. Is Vlad really trying to hurt everyone? I felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety as looked down at the ground, and then I noticed something odd. There were fresh footprints in the snow, leading to the back of the garden. I suddenly had a hunch and started following the footsteps. And I saw him there, all alone looking up at the snow as it fell. With a look in his eyes so sad I thought my heart would break, just like the first day we met. I was frozen to the spot. His crimson gaze slowly drifted over to me.

Vlad

"…Kira." "You find me over and over again, don't you?" "It's a little early, but.. Merry Christmas."

Please... Please don't smile at me so tenderly. Vlad walked through the snow towards me and he stopped right in front of me.

Vlad

"Kira?"

Kira

"Please, Vlad... Please don't hurt everyone."

I know that my words aren't enough to get you to stop. But I have to say them anyway.

Kira

"Everyone looked so hurt. I've never seen them look so sad."

Vlad

"..."

With every word I spoke, the rift between us grew bigger and bigger. And the white snow kept falling, right into the deep chasm. I'm going to show you what's in my heart. So please don't go far away. Please, let my feelings reach you.

Kira

"Please….. please stop doing this, Vlad."

Vlad

"I know that you love the flowers that have been revived in the mansion. But-"

Kira

"That's not all."

I do love the residents, and I want to protect them. That's true. But there's more. I exhaled a deep breath, a puff of white air in the night. And I told him how I felt.

Kira

"I care about you very much, Vlad. I care about you so much, and that's why I want you to stop."

Vlad

"Don't worry. I can't die."

Kira

"Your heart can." "Your heart can die, can't it?"

The pure love you had as a child is warped now. But I think that you genuinely love and care for people.

Flashback

Kira

"I was just thinking...it seems like you really love people."

Vlad

"What?"

Kira

"You always look at them with a special look in your eyes."

Vlad

"I do love them. I think humans are like flowers--living each moment of their limited lives with enthusiasm."

—-

Kira

"You remembered that little thing I said and met me every day because of that?"

Vlad

"'It wasn't a little thing." "Don't write off your worries as something unimportant. I certainly don't think so." "People's hearts are what allow them to live."

Flashback Ends

He cares for them so much he's willing to go to extreme measures to protect the future--to protect everything. The residents won't be the only ones hurt by him.

Kira

"What will you think if your dream comes true?" "Will you think, 'Oh, good. This is just the future I wanted' and smile?" "You won't smile. You won't be able to smile anymore."

Even if what he showed me is really the world that awaits Us…You can't compare the world to human lives. I'd been so uncertain about so many things, but I was sure about this. What I was about to say seemed so egotistical I hesitated for a moment. But I needed to tell him this while he was still in front of me.

Kira

"Vlad. If the only way to change the future is to hurt the people I care about…"

I bit my lip, trying to muster up the courage to finish.

Kira

"…then I don't need a world like that."

The hot tears that had been welling up in my eyes streamed down my cheeks. Vlad stared at me so long it felt like time had stopped. He looked down sadly.

Vlad

"...All I've done since we met was make you sad."

He looked back up at me and smiled. And then he said something that completely shocked me.

Vlad

"Hey, Kira. Want me to make you forget everything?'

Kira

"What do you mean, forget everything?"

Vlad

"I can use my powers to erase all of your sad memories."

I stared at him, stunned. His smile as as calm as the sea.

Vlad

"If my presence did nothing but make you sad, then I can erase all your memories of me, from the day we met."

Flashback

Kira

"Why do you look so sad?"

Vlad

"..." "Hey." "...Haven't we met somewhere before?"

Flashback Ends

All the memories we shared since that day in the snow came flooding back to me. Every memory, every dazzling, precious memory, felt like they were screaming inside of my heart. I Was sure that he felt the same about our memories together. I almost forgot to breathe as I stood there. He reached out towards me.

Vlad

"Then you won't have to be sad anymore." "Okay, Kira?"

His crimson eyes wavered with sorrow. I pushed away his hand.

Kira

"Why would you try to do that when you know that's not what I want?"

He was ignoring what I felt to erase my memories so I wouldn't be sad. He loved humans so much he wanted to save the world even if it meant doing cruel things to them. He kept reaching out holding a thorny red rose with a smile on his face, thinking that was his destiny- not realizing that his hand was covered in blood.

Kira

"I could never forget about you." "I don't care how much pain or sorrow it causes me!"

Vlad, you've been a part of my heart ever since that day I found you in the snow. I was so shocked when I found out you were a vampire I couldn't even cry. (It hurt so much and caused so much pain I thought about how much easier things would've been if I had never met you. Yet even still…

Kira

"I'm ridiculous happy when you're by my side! I love being with you."

Vlad

"…Kira."

I'm not confident that my feelings are enough to keep him here, but I have to tell him anyway. I just need to tell him.

Before he goes somewhere I can't reach. The cold air froze my fingers, but I reached out and clasped Vlad's hand.

Kira

"Vlad... I love you." "want to protect you just as strongly as you want to protect the future." "Please don't go. Please stay with me, Vlad."

I wasn't sure how much time passed. But as the snowflakes slowly fell onto our hands, Vlad gently pulled his away. I reached out and grabbed, trying to frantically hold onto his warmth. But he slipped from my grasp. He turned, his dark overcoat billowing in the night, and then began to walk away.

Kira

"Vlad! Please, wait! Please don't go!"

I called his name with my last bits of remaining strength, but he wouldn't turn around. Instead, he disappeared from my sight, like a snowflake melting on the pavement.