An Orphan's Grace

He is Beauty.

He is Grace.

He is bestowed with an Angel's face.

He wasn't quite sure how he ended up in an orphanage.

Was it because his parents did not want him?

Was he a burden?

A mistake?

A nuisance?

The Boy did not know, and as he tried to survive day after day within the walls of his new home, he did not stop to question the reason anymore. The orphanage was a cold place. Brick walls surrounded the grounds; dirt, and rocks, sealing off the boundless paths to Freedom that seemed to surround the establishment.

He did not know much of what was behind the walls. The Boy never had the chance to get out of the orphanage's grounds. So his only window to this unknown world were the people, all dressed more fancily than the previous ones, who came to the orphanage. Patrons, VIPs, the director called them, but the Boy did not know what that was, and no one ever told him.

Because of his weak disposition, something that the Boy would later learn was due to the number of incestuous ancestries in his family tree, the Boy did not participate in many activities. He was what books described as 'marginal,' whatever that really meant. He did not mingle with his peers, not because he did not want but because they did not wish to mingle with him.

The Boy, with porcelain doll features, pale skin, and glass-like blue eyes, was what the director praised as a perfect product.

He was uncertain what it referred to. Unlike his bedmate, he had never been to any of the workshops. Workshops, as the orphanage called them, were a kind of get-together where the prettiest and most promising orphans were invited to meet the pretty and fancy Patrons and VIPs! The Boy looked forward to the day he would be invited to one. He looked forward to meeting someone, one of those beautiful people that would speak with him and take him out of the orphanage.

Therefore, when the day finally came for him, the Boy did not hesitate.

It was Fate, a Miracle.

A hand, all in leather-covered, reached out to him and pulled him into the light.

Into his Master's Embrace.

The arms of an Angel.

A Godsent Grace.

It was Heaven's Will that sent that person to him.

The Boy was no boy anymore.

He became someone— or something, please don't be delusional.

He became essential— truly disposable, a new commodity.

He received a name— a seal that forever bound his Fate and stole his Freedom.

The Boy was no Boy anymore.

Now, the Boy was Glaciel.

A pretty Doll, a Vase with interesting features.

A Human fortunate or unfortunate enough to have had eyes and blood of the most delectable kind.

He was Beauty.

He was Grace.

He was another unfortunate case.

Children's Fall

ONE — As an only child, with little love given on his Father's side, but boundless adoration once granted by his Mother, Subaru could be said to be a beloved child. Hair locks like snow, ruby eyes gleaming the most incredible color of blood, he was Christa's portrait. The most beautiful Vampire after his Mother: The White Rose of the Vampire Clan.

Therefore, when he found himself digging out his Mother's heart, hands bloodied with her fluids, and silver dagger gleaming under the moonlight's tantalizing glow, Subaru fell into agony. A slow, quiet and foreshadowed descent into madness.

A look into the mirror and a glance at his features had his stomach churning. How could he look so much like her? Why did she have to haunt him so?

(he knew Christa— his Mother loved him, yet the guilt inside— the powerlessness that led to him holding up her dagger—)

The tilting point, the tipping point to his silent, fateful descent, were the funerals.

Quiet, elegant. Like his Mother.

There were few invited guests, and those who came were even fewer.

So, when he saw that one white rose, that gift that could only befit his Mother, Subaru felt touched.

He knew it was a trap. A sweet lie.

He could see it in the man's eyes. He could read it in his demeanor and previous disinterest in his Mother's spiraling craze.

He hadn't done anything. In fact, he had been one of the cogs that allowed Christa to fall prey to Karlheinz's tricks.

But he couldn't help it.

He was weak. He craved affection and to fill the hole Christa left.

And, when Aku laid that single rose on her tombstone, Subaru fell.

It was no love; it was the action of a foolish mortal succumbing to a Devil's whisper in a moment of weakness.

TWO — It was easy to admit that Reiji suffered from an inferiority complex. No, it was more accurate to say Reiji suffered from a Brother Complex that slowly morphed into obsession laced with jealousy.

He was brilliant, as was his brother.

He was everything Shu was, simply younger.

But it was okay. Reiji did not care. He, like Shu, enjoyed spending time with his brother.

Until Shu stopped showing his brilliance until he completely outshone his older brother for his Mother to completely forsake him. How was this fair?

Just because he was born later, did he not deserve the same degree of attention?

No matter how driven and talented, it was never enough for Beatrix.

Reiji did not want much. He only wanted his Mother to look at him, him, Him, HIM!

Once, just once would have been enough.

Reiji craved acknowledgment.

He yearned for Love and Attention.

He would take the slightest hint of it, and once fed and groomed into a sense of comfort, he would never let go— obsessionally holding onto what was given to him.

And if push came to shove, he'd destroy that Love and himself with it.

Contrarily, Shu, although brilliant and affectionate towards his brother, did not find joy in his studies.

Being good and liking something were two different concepts he understood at an early age. Therefore, when he noticed how Reiji seemed to strive in academics, Shu had no qualms about giving up. Favoring, on the one hand, his selfish desire for Freedom and, on the other, Reiji's willingness to become the best of them. If this decision created a rift between them, the oldest did not care.

How weak was their relationship for it to escalate to this point?

Shu did not need attention; he did not want it. The burden and the expectations were all too much for him to bear.

So, this person, this so-called Guardian of theirs sent by their progenitor, Shu, did not trust.

He particularly disliked how Reiji revered whoever the Demon was supposed to be.

THREE — Ayato hated his Uncle, Kanato loved him, and Laito simply craved whatever it was that his Uncle filled.

Yes, within the Triplets' life, Aku was a patch. This perfect puzzle piece that replaced the large, humungous, terrible trace that Cordelia left behind.

But why? How?

There existed a time when Ayato admired this mysterious Uncle of his. With the prettiest shade of blond, the most striking golden eyes he had seen, and a power second only to his Father, the young Vampire was spellbound.

Aku was a model Ayato found himself compelled to follow.

He was tall, elegant, graceful, powerful, respected, and practically revered by his all-encompassing Mother. He was everything Ayato ever aspired to be as an immature child.

Therefore, it was no surprise for Ayato to want to appear as the best in front of his Uncle. It was also evident that the more Aku ignored him, the more reckless his endeavors would be and the more obnoxious his behavior would appear.

Praises and expectations from Cordelia had fuelled Ayato's ego and personality. He was the best, and if he wasn't, he would need to crush everything and everyone before standing on top. He was bound to become the apex predator— he was his Father's heir.

Ayato was, in his Mother's words: The Future Vampire Lord.

If he did not stand at the top, he was worth noting.

Therefore, Aku's simple motion of merely brushing his form with cold, emotionless, and uncaring eyes was enough to have Ayato go mad.

Why? Why wouldn't Aku look at him?

(mother, mother, don't leave me—)

What? What did his brothers have that he didn't?

(they are inferior, ayato, don't disappoint mommy)

How? How dare Aku disregard him, make him fail his Mother?

(you should try your best to please your uncle ayato)

Ayato was a simple creature, long corrupted and tainted. His mind had one track, and similarly to most of his brothers, whatever Ayato did not have, he would break and destroy.

He had no choice! Aku forced him into hating him.

(into obsessing over his every word of disdain and careless attention)

Kanato, on the other hand, always loved his Uncle.

Probably, like Ayato, it had to do with Aku's natural charisma. An expression of his power and stature.

Plus, Aku was pretty, and as a natural worshiper of beauty, Kanato had to be dazzled. It was a trait carved into him by his Mother. Kanato had the prettiest of voices; he was his Mother's songbird for a reason, and with the beauty of his singing being his only redeeming feature, he had to be keen on looks.

Why else would he own a glasshouse filled to the brim with their prettiest Sacrificial Brides? Why would he care for the ruffles and shimmer of their gowns?

Therefore, in an effort to be able to contemplate and learn of his Uncle's beauty, Kanato worked hard to be tolerated. (not loved, that'd be distasteful)

Lucky for him, Ayato's rowdiness and lack of tact worked in his favor. With his meek nature turning into an advantage, Kanato learned that people (his uncle) liked subservient individuals. He only needed to be pretty, blink his big, round, lilac eyes at his Uncle, and the Demon would be swayed.

Kanato was unsure what his Uncle liked. But he was keen enough to notice how Aku's golden eyes would glimmer with something close to obsession and adoration whenever he'd look up to him with pure, innocent eyes.

Under his Uncle's careful care and grooming, the purple head grew more spoiled and pampered. Of all of the Sakamaki siblings, Kanato was the one most showered with adoration. Whatever he wanted from Aku, so long as it was material and within reach, Aku would casually agree and have it delivered to him.

He was by no means Aku's favorite (as much as he begged to differ), but he was the most spoiled.

He was a child with a broken set of values who, under Aku's demonstration of Love, turned more rotten and dysfunctional.

Truly, how fortunate for Kanato that he was born a Vampire Prince!

No matter what he destroyed or broke, no one would be able to punish him!

Such a blessed child, thoroughly bewitched and dependent on the attention given by others.

Finally, Laito, as the youngest of the Triplets, beneficiated from the most Love from his Mother. Oh, how he missed her...

Her touches: light yet precise.

Her caresses: delicate and sensual.

Her kisses: feather-light and compelling.

Her voice: suave and enticing.

Her body: sublime, purely divine.

And her blood: the most refined delicacy.

Ah, the mere thought of her had Laito almost reeling, cheeks flushed crimson and pupils dilating. Yes, Laito was undoubtedly the most beloved of the Triplets.

Lucky him :)

Killing his Mother had been painful, but how could Laito tolerate having her Love slowly slip out of his fingers? He would not share her (not anymore), so he'd kill her! The most beautiful confession of Love.

In this tale, as Laito's Uncle, Aku was one of the only male figures in his life. Apart from Richter, his Mother's Lover, and Karlheinz, his absent father, Laito did not see strong male figures often.

Not that it mattered. Laito only knew the taste of a strong woman leading him and the one of a weaker one under him (hilde had been a great maid). In fact, he had also seen how weaker males could whine and grovel under him.

So Laito wondered, pure curiosity, really.

His Mother setting the precedent of a stronger individual loving him. He wondered how a more powerful male individual would love him.

Oh, the shivers!

The expectations!

But Richter? His Mother's Lover? The one who groveled under their Father's power? Laito couldn't quite come to desire him.

Karlheinz? His Father? The progenitor that pitted him and his life into the hellish hole he called his life? Aha, yes, no, that was tasteless.

Therefore, Aku? This one other Uncle, neither his Mother's ex-Lover nor groveling under his Father's feet. With commendable beauty and power. And an aura oh-so-similar to his Mother in how he walked, spoke, and executed his actions?

(pure calculation and faked love and adoration. the perfect delivery of whatever laito wanted cleanly given to him.)

Yes, Aku was perfect! He was what Laito needed! Craved!

He was everything Cordelia failed and managed to give him.

Indeed, if he was patient, obedient, and good enough, Aku would Love him too? One day, perhaps.

Ah, children were meant to dream.

Dreams were meant to be shattered.

Aku truly loved obedient children like Laito the most.

(easy to use)