Zidane only watched from the sideline near Ariadne whilst Klaus took care of sweeping the Blue Waxes by himself, he offered to help but the temperamental blonde stated firmly he just stayed put with Ariadne. It wasn't like Klaus was failing in making these mindless know why he was the head of Tourmaline Hotel's Security Team.

He hasn't transformed yet but he already smash their bodies into puddings with his fists, damn. The dhampir with snow hair remained in awe, he looked up and noticed the air finally going back to normal, the intense scent that drove everyone's frenzy was fading, and echoes of other bloodthirsty beasts in the woods were gone.

The blonde noble vampire could still feel the rush of adrenaline in his veins, pushed by his anger of wanting to eradicate. "I'm so fucking done dealing with these creatures!" His clothes were soggy, stained with the fluids and some pieces from the Blue Waxes.

"Damn did they smell awful too, you need to wash yourself ten times later" Zidane curled his face in disgust, not fond of the smell of a dead Blue Wax.

Still scowling and recalling the person he asked not to come with them, Klaus neared Ariadne. "I told you to stay at home but see where your stubbornness led you" She was so pale and out of herself, staring at nothing particular and unblinking.

Tears slipped down, then another. "I missed my mom" She went in an uncontrollable sob, covering her face with both hands. "I'm sorry..."

Her outburst had Klaus and Zidane rooted on the spot again. Klaus was planning to give a thorough lecture and scolding but seeing her this vulnerable replaced the annoyance with uncertainty.

Klaus pressed his lips into a line and reached a hand out to her. "Let's go back, Spitfire"

"Yeah, let's" Zidane agreed quickly, hoping to pacify their crying companion soon. "I am a hundred percent sure Clock will return safely with your sister with the Ripe Night gone"

No words came from Ariadne, the rest of their walk was encased in silence. She didn't initiate any conversation nor glare drills at Klaus' head, the fire in those sunset eyes was cold charred coals. It was unsettling for the two vampires.

-*-

The arrival of the Harker sisters in their lives and manor was a splash of bright colors from a pastel palette–one that Wisdom didn't anticipate. Albeit living in such fancy structures and noble vampires of the Ancient bloodline, they were not as flashy or spontaneous with the way they lived their lives.

Holly and her sisters were wrecking balls which Wisdom took in.

When Klaus and Zidane returned with Ariadne, it didn't take long for Clock to show up carrying a shaking Arabella. The reunion was sore to the eyes of the male vampire occupants, something they would usually see in a theater play or television. Holly had been in the washroom for too long and came rushing out with tears.

Hm? Wisdom subtly narrowed his eyes, scowling as he observed that Holly's movement wasn't smooth, she was wincing and when the sisters did a group hug, she tried hard not to flinch. But Wisdom could tell she was in pain.

"Oh my gosh, we were so worried! I'm so glad you're okay!" Evangeline exclaimed.

Alanis was trying to hug all her sisters at the same time, "I love you girls!"

"We're okay, I am...fine" Arabella was still feeling a bit weak but she genuinely felt relief being in the warmth of her sisters.

Duckie showed up from Clock's room, quacking loudly, and joined the group hug.

Ariadne made her eldest sister gasp by hugging her torso, burying her face on Holly's chest. She never expressed this much affection towards Holly for the most part she was annoyed at the latter's excessive antics. "I'm sorry big sister"

Tears welled in Holly's fuschia eyes, "Little baby, what for?"

"For everything" Ariadne sobbed loudly, not letting go. "I am sorry for not being obedient, for always getting annoyed. I missed our life, I wished...I wish we were home again"

Her words brought more tears and sorrow in the rest of her sisters, Arabella not holding back a whimper and Alanis felt both joyous and sad. Evangeline was still trying to not look like a mess despite crying.

Holly wrapped her arms around the sobbing brunette on her bosom, "You do not have anything to be sorry for" She kissed the top of Ariadne's head.

"I feel like we no longer belong anywhere after we lose–" Ariadne spoke but she was cut off by her sister's finger on her lips.

A smile plastered on Holly's lips, the sweet and warm smile she always gave them. "No, we did not lose everything. We have each other and home is where we are, so long as we are together, it's home. You are my home" She looked at the four of them.

The whole scene was too raw and pure for any of the vampire occupants to butt in, even Kurtis who was normally sunny and humorous wasn't smiling. They basked in silence as a means of giving respect to the sisters' moment.

"Wisdom," Kurtis turned to the firstborn, his amber eyes wide and blinking with curiosity.

Wisdom looked at him with a raised brow, "Hm?"

The golden-haired secondborn tilted his head, "Mind telling me what you know? It's about time you take the veil off, right?"

Before Wisdom could react or reply, Holly came forward to stand in front of the blue-haired vampire. Her Fuschia pink eyes were unwavering and not intimidated by his crystal gold orbs. "My sisters and I will use the guest room tonight, permission please"

The way she spoke 'please' wasn't soft, Wisdom detected underlying steel and animosity from it that she was not going to take a refusal from him. "No, we have an agreement about your room assignments"

"I beg of you, Master" Holly repeated, her lips sculpted into a small smile but it didn't reach her eyes.

Wisdom scowled, "I told you not to call me Master"

"Please allow us to stay in the guest room tonight, Wisdom" Holly altered her statement but without losing the steel under that sweet tone.

Alanis was rattled internally, she didn't miss the sharp blade coated in Holly's words. "It is only for tonight, Wisdom, we will appreciate it if we can stay the remaining hours together before sunrise"

"I think that is fine, given what they went through tonight, why don't you allow them?" Clock also seconded, gesturing to their human females, he didn't like the sickly look Arabella had and hoped to have her feel better soon.

Amadeus seconded with reluctance, "Let them be, brother, there's no harm to it" He didn't want to be away from Evangeline just yet, there were unspoken things that needed enlightenment between them–the whole blood-sucking changed the air current around them. But he wasn't stupid to not notice her sudden awkwardness when she left his chamber.

Marking someone was not easy, if only it could be done without strings involved. Strings would always follow.

Back in the guest room for the remainder of hours before dawn, Holly and her sisters squeezed into the bed not bothered if they were cramped and took most space. Duckie had settled near the door like a chivalrous guard, curled within the wicker basket.

"I have a confession to make" Evangeline declared since neither had gone to sleep yet and they were all awake lost in their thoughts.

Arabella was close next to her, she was no longer sickly pale and dazed. "What is it, Evie?"

"Wait, let me guess" Alanis raised a hand, she was on the far left across from Holly who was lying on the far right–their sisters were between them. "--is this about a boy? Did someone finally reach your unattainable standards?"

Laughter erupted in the room, even Ariadne snickered as she was pressed against Holly.

The youngest Harker visibly flustered, "Hey I don't have a ridiculous standard, I just haven't interacted with enough men my age to have my interest piqued" She covered her face first, exhaling. "Amadeus and I shared a kiss–"

Ariadne shot up from her lying position, "Holy fudge I knew it! You were so weird around him earlier!" She poked Evangeline's side and then noticed the bite mark peeking through by the choker, this made her gasp. "He bit you like marked you?!"

This revelation got all sisters awake and the stress from earlier's event was temporarily buried as they fussed over Evangeline's revelation.

"H–How...W-what did it feel like?" Alanis' wide gray eyes were darting back and forth to their eldest sibling, anticipating a reaction.

Evangeline's cheeks reddened more, "Umm it's not bad, to be honest, I mean it stung at first but became stimulating afterward. He wasn't being rough with me..." She trailed off, pushing strands of hair behind her ear. "...Actually after the kiss and bite, he warmed up to me but I felt awkward because we didn't have any proper label and I don't know what exactly I felt for him"

There was a gleam of warmth in Holly's pink eyes, she patted her sister's head, chuckling. "It cannot be helped if any of you gets taken by the vampire brothers, there is no denying their charm and looks are above human standards"

"Do you think it's ever possible for a human and vampire to fall in love, big sister?" Arabella looked down at her lap, she recalled how it felt right to call Clock mentally and to think he showed up. What was that about? Like a dormant connection waiting to be stirred.

Holly placed a finger under her chin, looking up thoughtfully. "Hm, quite hard to answer, dearest but there is one thing I am sure of" She looked at them, smiling. "My love will only belong to the four of you"

-*-

Sleep would not visit him anymore, he was already brimming awake partly because of annoyance albeit it wasn't evident on his face but Wisdom felt the ire in him increased to the roof when Holly insisted on using the guest room after the Ripe Night. He intended to not give in to her demand but with Clock and Amadeus already agreeing to it, Wisdom caved in wordlessly.

The blue-haired firstborn Harker skirted the huge beds of tended roses, sunflowers, and hydrangeas in the manor's back garden, taking a secret route obscured by crawling plants, a barely hidden archway with a bricked path. The Argent Mountain was a big no in their list of places, it was crossed in thick black marker because it was harmful to vampires and seemed benevolent compare to its nightmarish counterpart–The Undying, Weeping Woods, a freaking odd name but it had been home to countless beasts and odd creatures whose main drive was blood. Its fiendish dwellers weren't picky, they would tear anyone who'd get in their way.

"Huh" Wisdom was being surprised a lot this day it seemed, he was just approaching a safe part of the wood and realized he wouldn't be spending his brooding alone.

Not that far was an undisturbed lake, glistening like a smooth mirror in the ground. The person he least expected to see was standing near the calm body of water, looking at it.

Wisdom continued walking, "You have no issue stripping yourself bare"

Her eyes found him and whilst she appeared serene, Wisdom could tell Holly was keeping her hostility in control. She said nothing in return, instead dipping into the lake until her body was covered up to the shoulders.

Silence prolonged between them, it was grating on the blue-haired vampire's nerves. "I do not recall giving you permission to be here, not ruling in that you're not supposed to find this in the first place" He tried making her talk again but to his dismay, Holly only lowered herself further into the water, her long wavy damp hair shielding her face from view.

Wisdom took off his clothes and went into the lake, he finally gauged a look of surprise from her as he came closer, scowling. "Where is your enthusiasm and confidence? Weren't you the one who wanted to be with me? If I remember correctly, you volunteered" He prevented her from escaping by cornering her against the corner, putting both arms on her side.

"And if I remember correctly too" Holly could feel the warmth seeping onto her wet back as Wisdom hovered from behind, she was shocked when he joined her in the lake and naked too. "You said you I was a pretentious poison"

The noble vampire's hand went to her hair, pushing it away and revealing her back to him which made Holly gasp, she panicked but Wisdom held her in place. His hooded golden eyes stared hard. "So this is what you do in your free time? You need a new hobby" He trailed his fingers over the dried gashes marring Holly's back and the new ones were angry red lines.

Tears welled in Holly's eyes, she felt the pang of pain when Wisdom brushed those new wounds with his fingertips, "Stop"

Wisdom darted his tongue out and glazed it over the wounds, trailing slowly with both of his arms snaked around Holly's waist.

A foreign sensation sent through Holly's body, and her body's reaction was not to her liking. "I said stop!" Holly elbowed him on the face, pushing away from the bluette, and used this chance to rise from the lake. Still dripping wet, she took her dress, wearing it haphazardly over her head, and sprinted off.

Wisdom was left in the lake, somewhat dumbfounded at what happened but he only watched Holly leave before looking up at the sky, he licked his fang and sighed. "Camus, your one true love hid such bitter and painful truths"