CHAPTER ONE: TICKETS TO MY DOWNFALL.

      Izumi Kuromiya wasn't naive. She knew all the attention she received was because of her looks. But she couldn't complain much. Not when her mind is a little fucked up, when her soul won't ever stop crying, and when she honestly doubts she has a heart. The reality was, her only attribute is the container of her soul. The rest. . . well, there was not much to say about everything else.

      Maybe she didn't deserve love. But she would take it anyway.

      Her flirtatious laugh echoed throughout the Sakamaki manor, reaching even the secret passageways and the forgotten rooms. She was being this loud because she was hungry for attention, and she was well aware that Laito Sakamaki's presence in her room would only make the other brothers join their little reunion.

      If it wasn't Ayato with his jealousy, it would be Reiji to scold them, or maybe Kanato would ask her to stop fooling around with his brother and to instead play with him. Or Shu would complain because he wanted to sleep. Even Subaru could make an appearance, ready to deliver some hits and complain about her because, to be honest, they didn't get along at all.

      Nonetheless, no one came. Which only made Izumi curious about their locations. What could they be doing that was so important? Her patience was running low. She was about to scream, knowing that that would definitely catch everyone's attention. That was her last resort. However, she heard Reiji and Ayato.

      Her bad mood immediately ceased and was replaced by curiosity. Apparently, a human had arrived at the manor, claiming that she would be staying with them for now.

      Meanwhile, Laito didn't find the news as intriguing as she did. Instead, he took advantage of the distraction to have Izumi only for him at least this one time. No interruptions. No nuisances. His wolfish grin only grew as he approached her. He started caressing her arms lovingly as if she was made of crystal, and his eyes devoured her whole.

      Izumi was still focused on the conversation downstairs, and Laito kept advancing on her body. His hands went up to her arms until he reached her shoulders, where they stayed for a bit before he started to slowly pull down the straps of her dress. However, before he managed his purpose, he was pushed away by the vampiress. Laito fell from the edge of the bed and Izumi fixed her dress before disappearing. From his place on the floor, the brown-haired vampire huffed. He could already hear the girl flirting with his brother in the main hall.

      The vampiress threw herself over Ayato's lap, who was sitting on the sofa he had proclaimed as his just because it resembled a throne. The redhead stared at her, a smile pulling his lips. Izumi immediately smiled back.

      She couldn't explain it. She knew it made no sense. Nevertheless, every time Ayato looked at her, he made her feel a little less empty. She didn't know why, and to be honest, she didn't even care to find out. She approached him and kissed him, and she could swear she felt something hit her chest. . . her heart?

      "Ayato, Izumi," Reiji scolded. They pulled apart just enough to snap their heads towards the older vampire. "Your things in your rooms."

      Ayato grumbled a complaint but still stopped kissing the girl sitting on his lap. The vampiress only smiled because, honestly, she only did it to be scolded. After all, the interior of her precious packaging was empty and she could only fill it with attention.

      When she laid her eyes on the human girl, her mood changed. Her smile turned vicious, and her eyes shone red while she looked at her up and down, "And who are you?" She breathed through her nose, and the exquisite scent of her blood filled her nostrils.

      The smile vanished. Her jaw tensed when she felt the fangs pushing against her lips, and her eyes darkened. Curious. The last time she had experienced the thirst this much had happened a long, long time ago. Back when she was younger, back when she was more impulsive. In fact, it had been so long ago that the sensation in her throat felt almost foreign. The heat went down her tongue and reached her stomach, setting everything on fire. Her more animalistic and savage side smiled and roared, begging to be set free.

      There was no doubt that this was something she had not missed.

      It took everything from her to not show her discomfort, not allowing herself to let any of the vampires notice her sudden weakness. She was so used to feeding off of blood bags, she had forgotten how it felt to sink her teeth on human skin.

      That smooth, flawless, fair skin. . . only coloured by the blood that runs through her veins.

      Izumi appeared right in front of her, making her squeal with her sudden movement. Shu moved his head from the sofa, suddenly interested in the situation. A newfound rush of adrenaline controlled the vampiress' body, still hungry for being the centre of attention but hungrier to calm her thirst.

      Reiji straightened his glasses on top of the bridge of his nose, staring at the girl with squinted eyes, "Izumi," he warned.

      "Shh." The vampiress took the human by the shoulders, smiling kindly at her and almost hypnotising her. "Everything is going to be alright." She kept caressing her skin.

      So soft, so warm, so tempting.

      Then, before anyone could do something to stop her, she turned the girl around between her arms and sank her teeth on her neck.

      Her body was filled with pure ecstasy. She had forgotten what it was like to drink blood directly from the human body, but now she was sure she was never going to rely on blood bags again. She could feel the blonde's heart beating against her chest, her pulse was weakening... the blood was leaving her veins only to be sucked by her, running down her throat.

      The human girl fell to the floor, lifeless, inert, completely empty. Izumi noticed the blood stains that littered the floor, and a smile came up to her face when she looked down at her clothes to realise she was covered in the red liquid. Divine liquid, her delicacy. She licked her lips, savouring every drop left.

      Her eyes went back to the dead body. Her skin no longer shone, instead, it seemed almost grey. Her eyes were still open, showing there was no life inside her. Izumi clicked her tongue, thinking she didn't even get to know her name before she had resurrected the thirst that led her to her demise.

      "I'm Yui Komori."

      Her voice brought her back to reality.

      Izumi blinked once, focusing on the blonde girl's face. Her skin was full of life, her lips and cheeks red due to the blood that ran through her nervous system, and her pink eyes held a mortal innocence.

      The vampiress stopped breathing in an attempt to avoid the scent from tempting her. So she wouldn't be controlled by it. But it was already registered in her head, just as the sensation that she imagined when she drank her blood. Would it be just as satisfactory? Or could it be even better? Easily enough she could approach her and, before she realised it, it would already be too late.

      No. She bit her tongue, tasting her own blood with the intention of quelling her animal instincts. However, it didn't work. It was then that the human's gaze set on her, never leaving her. She raised her eyebrows, like challenging her to say something, and the pink eyes went to the floor in an instant.

      "Now, in the interest of formality," Reiji stood in front of the coffee table, staring at the human girl that sat on the three-bodied sofa, "let us begin by having you tell us about yourself and how you came to enter this house."

      "Um, right, I - " Her blabbering was interrupted by Laito's laugh. Izumi raised her head to look at the top of the stairs, smiling at the newcomer. A new distraction was more than welcomed right now. Nevertheless, Ayato frowned at her actions. He took her by her chin and made her look at him.

      "What have we here? Is it true? Is there really a cute little human girl here?" In a second, Laito appeared next to Yui and licked her cheek. At the same time, Kanato appeared behind the sofa, taking the opportunity to lick her neck. "Mmm, you smell so nice and sweet."

      "Please let me have a lick too," Kanato asked, appearing right behind the sofa, "You're right. She's sweet."

      "Now you two," Reiji stopped them from continuing, "don't you think that behaviour is a little impolite towards a lady you have only just met?"

      "Yes, guys." Izumi tried to retake her role, not allowing herself to seem flustered by the human's presence, "Control yourselves. I haven't tasted her yet."

      "It's pretty natural to lick someone that has such a tasty smell," Laito said to Reiji before turning his head towards Izumi, "Princess, you can taste her if you want." He reached his hand out to her, which was received by a flirtatious smile before Izumi went to take his hand.

      "Stop it already!" Ayato hit his brother's hand to get it away from the girl, "Do you forget Ore-sama was the first one who saw her? Consequently, Ore-sama will be her first everything."

      "I don't need permission from Ore-sama," Izumi shrugged off. So, she went to get up, but Ayato wrapped her waist with his arm and made her sit back on his legs.

      "Ore-sama disagrees," he murmured against her ear, "Last night -"

      "Moron," Subaru interjected, "I'm so sick of you calling yourself 'Ore-sama'."

      Ayato stood up, holding Izumi between his arms bridal-style. The girl only got comfortable in his grasp, while the redhead looked around in search of Subaru.

      "Screw you! I know that's you, Subaru. Come here! Show yourself!"

      "I'm right here," he answered with a bored tone, and everyone's heads turned to him, "I thought it smelled like human in here. So it was you. How dare you interrupt my precious sleep?"

      "H-how did you get in?" Izumi rolled her eyes to her stammering. No doubt, her indecisiveness and blabbering were driving her mad. Maybe it wouldn't be that bad to just kill her. That way, she wouldn't be tempted by her blood nor would she have to deal with this.

      "My question first!" Subaru hit the wall, leaving the trace of his fist on it. Izumi sighed, used to his explosive reactions.

      Reiji straightened his glasses, keeping calm, "Has anyone been told anything about this lady who has come here to live with us?"

      Ayato sat down again and Izumi stretched over his legs. She put her head over one of his shoulders, while her legs dangled from his free arm. Laito stared at her long legs before realising that her dress had gone a little up because of the movement. But Ayato noticed his gaze and removed the arm that laid under her legs to put it over them, covering her thighs.

      Yui, who had observed the silent interaction between the brothers, suddenly got up from her place, "Excuse me. I think this is a misunderstanding, so I'll be on my way."

      "Just a moment!" Reiji stopped her, "I am attempting to verify the truth of the matter. Wouldn't it be rather impolite to leave now?"

      "But... but I -"

      "Do you always stutter?" Izumi asked abruptly, making Yui's eyes widen. Her tone was serene, almost as if she was truly interested in the answer, but her body language showed she was angry with just her mere presence. For a moment she even pondered over apologising, though she wouldn't know why. "Or do you only do it when you're in front of good-looking people?"

      "I'm wondering if she is the woman he mentioned," Shu thought aloud, catching everyone's attention.

      "Shu, do you know something about this girl?"

      "Maybe."

      "Don't "maybe" me," Kanato complained, "I would like an explanation."

      "That guy... contacted me the other day. He said, 'We have a guest arriving from the church, so treat her with respect.'" Shu didn't even bother to open his eyes or to feign interest while he kept lying on the sofa.

      "What?" Ayato had a deep frown, "Are you telling me Chichinashi here is the prospective bride?"

      "Oh, is that all?" Kanato drawled on, bored.

      "Chichinashi?" Izumi echoed, staring at Ayato.

      "Yeah, Chichinashi. Didn't you see her? She doesn't have anything."

      Izumi sighed, glancing at the human that was still staring at them. Her persistence was getting on her nerves already. Was she expecting her to help her? Didn't she understand she was a vampire too? She should probably be more afraid of her than the Sakamaki brothers.

      "More like a sacrifice than a bride."

      Izumi had to bite down her lip to keep from laughing. But her reaction didn't go unnoticed by either of the brothers. Laito smiled at her, Ayato seemed more upset than before.

      "Oh, right... And he also mentioned not to kill her."

      "Really?" Laito smiled, turning his head to Yui and staring at her gleefully, "That means we're going to have a very long relationship with her."

      "It appears there is no misunderstanding, so allow us to introduce ourselves," Reiji spoke up again, "That is the oldest son, Shu. I am the second oldest, Reiji. This is the third triplet, Ayato. They are Kanato and Laito. And the youngest is Subaru. And she is Izumi, she lives with us even though she is not part of the family."

      "Yet," Ayato added, winking at the girl between his arms. Izumi couldn't help the smile that took power of herself, feeling as if she were a little girl that was beyond excited for everything. The rest of the brothers suppressed their groans, ashamed of their behaviour.

      "But this has to be a mistake. No one told me anything about brides. Besides, you're all... kind of weird. I... I need to contact my father," Yui thought aloud. But then, Ayato put his hand up, showing that he had taken her cellphone. "My phone! Please, give it back!"

      "Should I?"

      Yui went to retrieve her cellphone, almost throwing herself over Ayato with her only aim to reach the device. In a blink, Izumi had already left her prior place over the redhead's legs and appeared next to Laito. This made the human doubt, her eyes flickering between the pink-haired vampires and the redhead before finally continuing with her mission of retrieving her possession.

      Meanwhile, Laito put an arm over Izumi's shoulders. He turned his head down in order to reach her ear.

      "What's wrong, princess? You avoided her like the plague," he laughed lowly, but the girl didn't bother answering.

      Ayato set his gaze on them and opened his mouth to command his brother to not get so close to the girl. Subaru took advantage of his distraction and took the phone from his hands, catching his attention.

      "What are you doing?" Yui exclaimed, terrified of seeing that now it was Subaru who had her phone.

      "I'm doing this," Subaru answered. No emotion slipped through his face when he broke the phone in two halves and threw it to the floor. Laito burst into laughter before approaching Yui.

      "There, there, bitch-chan. You're about to become very good friends with us, so you don't need your silly old phone. Right?"

      Izumi clenched her jaw while Kanato too approached the walking blood bag. Ayato won her attention with a quick look, and he signalled for her to come back to his legs and she did so. Once she was back to her previous position, he kissed her again.

      But this kiss wasn't for her, but for his brothers. It was a signal of possession, showing that she was his and only his. Izumi knew it. But she enjoyed it, it made her feel appreciated. It made her feel loved.

      They only pulled apart when Yui screamed, turning their heads towards her to look at her fall to the floor after tripping over her own feet. She managed to get her knee scratched in the process.

      Izumi immediately turned her head to the opposite direction, closing her eyes hard and sinking her nose in Ayato's chest. Don't breathe, don't breathe. She couldn't allow herself to do it, or she wouldn't be able to control her thirst—rather, her thirst would control her—. Meanwhile, the rest of the vampires rejoiced in the smell of her blood. Their eyes shone and their fangs appeared.

      Yui succumbed to pure terror. Her face contorted due to the sight of something she thought impossible, something that was right in front of her eyes. So real, tangible, only a few inches from her face.

      "Vampires?" Her hand reached to her chest and she held up a holy cross, her desperation evident.

      "Did you really believe that fairy tale written by a mortal claiming that vampires are vulnerable to garlic, holy crosses, and sunshine? This just goes to show how foolish and arrogant mortals are. That makes me furious."

      Yui blinked, her only hope to escape alive vanished with much rapidity. Then, she got up to run out of the room. Izumi finally moved her face away from Ayato's chest and let out a scoff while watching the girl. She still didn't dare to breathe, though.

      "A little melodramatic, don't you think?"

      "Her manners are deplorable," Reiji agreed.

      Kanato disappeared from the room, and a few seconds later, so did Laito. Ayato turned his eyes to Izumi, resembling a kid begging for her mother to let him go out to play with his friends.

      Izumi only got up and brushed him off with a gesture of her hands, showing that it didn't annoy her, "Go enjoy yourself."

      Ayato smiled at her and gave him a short kiss on the lips before disappearing. Reiji and Subaru went back to their rooms, and Izumi threw herself over the sofa that was similar to a throne. She stretched out over the couch, looking for a comfortable position while trying to ignore the eyes that were burning holes in the back of her neck. Eventually, her patience reached her limit.

      "What?" She barked, turning around to face Shu.

      The blond boy smiled, and closed his eyes once again before moving his head to adopt his previous position, "I can smell your jealousy."

      "Shut your mouth."

      "Your reign is shaking, Zuzu," he scoffed, and the pink-haired girl abandoned her place on the sofa to stand right in front of him. Shu opened a solitary eye and took a moment to look at her before he closed it again, "You know I'm right."

      "The only thing shaking here is that girl's legs."