Phoenix POV

"I don't know what you're talking about, but clearly I haven't been murdered! I'm very much alive." The ground beneath me ignited with flames.

Taking a chance, I started to walk forward, but suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.

I took a deep breath, but the dizziness only got worst.

What's going on with me? I thought and then felt my necklace began to heat up against my skin and glow brightly.

The next moment, my vision went blurry and I fell forward, the strange woman seizing the opportunity and attacking me.

Zero POV

I stood, frozen, unable to do anything as the woman stabbed her claws into my beloved Phoenix's chest, her eyes drifting shut and her blood instantly feeling the air, causing the vampires in the room to grow ravenous.

"Now the vampire race is at least pure again." The woman stated. "Maybe you'll see your damned parents ag-"

"You ignorant members of the Council have no respect for a pureblood princess!" Yuki lunged at the one who harmed Phoenix, completely catching everyone off guard. "You have committed an unforgivable sin that we shall make you pay for!"

Before Yuki could rip the woman's throat out, the woman burst into flames, Phoenix's eyes shooting open as flames flickered around her body.

"P-Phoenix?" Yuki asked, frightened.

My beloved didn't reply for her body burned to ashes in that moment, my heart breaking into a million pieces.

"No!!" I screamed, breaking free from my captor and rushing forward for the second time in my life, towards my beloved.

All around, the students began screaming and shouting in confusion and worry. Some even begun to cry as they stared down at what was left of Phoenix.

Nearby, I heard the remaining Council Members begin to laugh in triumph.

I stood angrily, having had enough.

"YOU DAMNED VAMPIRES HAVE STOLEN HER AWAY FROM ME TWICE NOW! YOU HAVE CAUSED TOO MUCH PAIN AND HEARTACHE! NOW YOU MUST PAY!" I pulled the weapon Kaname had given me out of my hiding place in my tux and sliced at the members standing before me.

Kaname POV

We took the Council members out just as we had three years ago. Quickly, and swiftly, Yuki, Zero, and I killed them.

By this time, the student were in an uproar and screaming. What had been a happy event mere hours ago had turned into utter chaos in a matter of minutes.

"Seiren, you and the others work on calming the students and erasing the Day Class student's memories." I directed her. She always was around when needed and for that, I was grateful.

"Yes, sir." She bowed and did as she was told.

"Yuki, you and Zero help me carry Phoenix's body back to the dorm. It would be best to remove her from this blood stained area." I told her, staring at all the blood stained areas of the magnificent room.

Yuki just nodded, tears still streaming down her face at the second loss of our adoptive sister.

We were out of the ballroom in minutes, Zero carrying Phoenix gently in his arms.

"It'll be okay, Zero. I promise it will be okay." Yuki whispered condolences to him, touching a hand to his arm.

Seeing this sent a slight wave of jealously through me, but I quickly shook it away, knowing it would only make matters worse if I let my anger get the best of me.

"Look, Kaname! The moon is crimson red." Yuki shouted suddenly. "Does this mean..."

I only nodded, looking at the moon myself.

The Phoenix would rise from her ashes that same night and all would be alright.

Phoenix POV

It felt extremely painful having the woman stab her claws through my chest, but the pain was nothing compared to what I felt mere seconds later as my body burned to ashes.

I felt every pin prick of pain as the flames engulfed me entirely, my vision going blurry.

I wanted to scream out in agony at the pain, but no matter how hard I tried, my mouth wouldn't open.

Then, suddenly, I felt my conscious leave the ballroom and travel to somewhere else.

I found myself standing in a completely white room, void of any color.

"Hello, my child." An almost melodic voice said from behind me.

I spun around, being greeted by a beautiful woman with long auburn hair and violet eyes very much like mine.

"Mother?" I gasped, rushing forward into her outstretched arms.

"You've grown into such a beautiful young woman." She whispered, stroking my hair.

"We're very proud of you, our dear Phoenix." I instantly looked up at the sound of his voice.

"Father?" I touched a hand to his cheek, making sure I wasn't imagining them both. "Does this mean, I'm dead, Mama and Papa?"

"No, baby. You're not dead. At least not in the way you think." My mother replied and then she pulled away gently, both my parents looking at me with serious expressions on their faces.

"We've waited eleven years to see you again, Phoenix. Now that the time is here, we must tell you what really happened the night we died."

I stared at them in awe as they started their tale.

"From the day you were born, the Vampire Council had been after you. They wanted to steal you away from us and kill you. . ." Father started.

"They claimed you never should have been born. That I never should have lain with your Father. They felt it was wrong and unnatural. . ." Mother added.

"We ignored them of course, but then they showed up that night, attacking with no remorse." Father frowned, sighing, but continuing on. "We fought them off, protecting you at all costs. They just kept coming at us, not giving up. We received many injuries. Up until the last moment, we protected you. When Kaname showed up, we told him to take you to safety and not come back to the bloodbath that occurred at our home. The Council broke into the room we locked ourselves in and moments later, I blew the place up, praying you had made it far away."

By the time my father was done explaining this I had tears in my eyes, some of my memories of that night flooding back.

"Shh... It's in the past..." My mother pulled me into her embrace, stroking my hair gently.

"How could I not remember that night?" I whispered, trying to figure it out.

"Your memories were sealed away by a witch." Father replied flatly.

"She sealed away your memories of Zero Kiryu and the night you died." My mother added and suddenly touched her hand to the pendant I still wore. "Here. I'll unlock them..."

Visions flashed through my mind then, the last one leaving me standing there, understanding.

"You now know the truth." Father remarked, touching a hand to my shoulder. "It's almost time for you to awaken, my dear Phoenix. When you do, you'll become the true Phoenix Queen you were always born to be. The gene runs in your bloodstream from mine. But be warned, my darling. There is any enemy lurking very nearby. She wishes to take your power and use it for her own gain. Do you understand what you must do?"

"Yes, Father. I do." I nodded and hugged them one last time.

"It's time for you to awaken now, our darling." They kissed each of my cheeks and within a flash, I was back in the room I had been carried to.