Shadows within darkness

Hey there, new chappy.

Thanks to



Lamica (Yes, Vincent is... dumb -_- Buuuuut: he might notice it some day XD)



Rina76 (Uh, yesh, he got castrated by a stupid bitch called L.U.C.R.E.C.I.A *cough* He should have thrown her out right then and never look back but... well. And you are NOOOOOOO failure *smacks you* Don´t say such silly things! *huffs* And I am not exactly a very good student, you better not take me as the rolemodel XD)



for reviewing and to Golden Kitsune for betaing!



40



The next night he woke, Yazoo found both coffins next to his own empty, which he appreciated quite a lot for he did not feel like seeing them all lovey-dovey.



Going up into his room he gathered a few of his clothings and threw them in a white linen bag. He briefly contemplated about taking a bath before he left but then dismissed it. They could come back from hunting any moment and he wanted to be far away by then.



Still he went into the salon, with its ever present fire, to take the books he had copied. They were his after all and he certainly needed something to do in the upcoming, lonely nights.



Just as he was about to take them from the table and stuff them into his bag a low voice from the shadows ordered him “Sit.”



Surprised, the young vampire looked up, narrowing his eyes and staring in the darkness. “Vincent?”



He furrowed his brows a bit, then his face became cold and he informed the other curtly, while wrapping the leather ribbon about his pack.



“My apologies, I will be gone immediately.”



“Sit,” the other vampire instructed again, adding after a pause “Please.”



Standing next to the table, Yazoo wondered what this was all about now, but eventually grabbed a chair and sat down, observing Vincent standing in his corner with folded arms. The man finally came towards the fire and calmly sat down in the chair opposite his student.



Neither of them said anything, until the younger one lifted an eyebrow and asked “And?”



Vincent looked at his gloved hand resting on the armrest, then his gaze shifted towards his student again as he finally said “I want to apologize for my inexusable behavior the other night and the one before that.”



Yazoo´s jaw dropped and it took him a few seconds to shut his mouth with a clicking sound again.



“I have been thinking about what you told me.” The vampire continued, going back to look at nothing in particular. “And I have come to the conclusion that I do not want you to leave.”



“…I see,” the other young man said, not knowing what else to answer.



“I have to admit, that I do not want for Lucrecia to leave either. As you probably know she means very much to me. But it seems that my enthusiasm about seeing her again clouded my judgement and I am grateful to you for being brave enough to confront me with the unpleasant, even though you had to fear that I would turn away from you. I did not appreciate it at that time, or rather was not able to, but now I see that it is the greatest sacrifice one being can make for the ones he holds dear.”



“Really ?” Yazoo answered, looking sceptical. Initially he had just wanted to get Vincent away from the scheming bitch so that he could have him all to himself again. It had been some kind of desperate deed, but if Vincent said so… He most certainly wouldn´t object!



“Yes. And if you decide to forgive me I will assure you that something like this will never happen again. Ever.”



Yazoo tilted his head a little. Now he wasn´t a cruel being (just practical) and he could feel that Vincent was suffering and waiting for an answer, but his master also had caused him a lot of grief the past nights and there were certain things that just wouldn´t be done with an apology.



“Do you remember the last time you promised me something? Not even half a year later you already broke it. I am sorry but I have some difficulties to simply trust your judgement any longer, if I do not know what it is based on.”



“I understand,” Vincent said quietly. “I did not expect you to agree that easily. I have a proposal to make, if you would be willing to listen.”



Yazoo gave a short nod and the other vampire continued “I will tell you about me. There shall be no secrets to remain between us. If you wish for it I shall allow you to read my mind so you can acertain that what I tell you is the truth. After that you can decide if you will accept my exculpation or if you rather not spend your time with me any longer.”



The silver haired teenager thought about that for a moment, then nodded again, but asking still a little suspiciously “What about the woman?”



“I will ask Lucretia to take her leave as soon as she comes back from hunting.”



“Great. If you don´t mind I would like to partake in this.”



“Very well.” The vampire nodded after a brief pause and in silence they waited for Lucrecia Crescent to enter the salon.



*



She could feel that something was wrong when she entered with a smile and instead of only Vincent found the two of them sitting in their chairs, her former lover a bit stiffly, while his apprentice gave a rather relaxed and casual impression.



Her smile faltered only slightly before she caught herself again and approached them, leaning one hand on the back of a chair that had been prepared in front of them. Vincent rose to his feet and politely gesturing towards the chair saying “Sit please..”



Tilting her head a little, she laughed a rather forced laugh, asking mockingly “Is this some kind of conspiracy or something?”



They exchanged a brief glance Lucrecia did not like in the least, and Vincent sat down again.

“Please.”



“Well, if you ask me so kindly,” she retorted, trying to remain friendly and casual in the thick, and serious atmosphere. After she had settled down, hands placed neatly into her lap,

Vincent cleared his throat, intoning “Well, about what we talked about earlier…”



He paused, looking uncomfortable and as if he did not quite knew how to say it.



“You mean about that we agreed that it would be better for Yazoo to live on his own now?” she helped him, smiling, and as if this was the most natural thing to consider, briefly glancing at the youth in question. Yazoo gave no expression whatsoever, only sitting in his chair and observing the two of them.



Somehow he unnerved her. To say that she did not like him was a bit of an overstatement, in fact she did only consider him to be a nuiscance she had to get rid of. But still… His cold gaze and enicmatic attitude sat not well with her and she had no idea what Vincent found in him, apart from that he was maybe beautiful… But then again she was too.



“Yes, about that,” Vincent said, drawing her attention back to him. “I reconsidered our decision and after a long and thorough night of pondering the problem I came to the conclusion that he will not leave if he does not wish for it.”



Lucrecia looked a little surprised, but then another smile graced her lips and she said in an understanding fashion “Oh, I understand. Well, he is still young and used to the place, so I think it will be no problem for us at all to find ourself another estate.”



“No, I am afraid you do not quite understand me,” the cloaked vampire shook his head, then threw another glance at Yazoo and looked back at her, finally revealing softly “It is you who will leave here.”



She had to process that for quite some time, until her blank face turned into a disbelieving expression and she laughed with a shrill sound “Ah, Vincent, now that is not a funny joke…”



“I am serious,” Vincent informed her gently.



“What? But… I mean why? He is old enough to take care of himself, he doesn´t need you to be his watchdog.”



“It is not my concern for his well being that led me to this decision. Although it may be one of the minor reasons.”



Throwing the silver haired vampire a cold look, she folded her arms over her chest, demanding “So? What is it then?”



“Affection,” Vincent said simply, making her laugh nastily and shaking her head.



“I can´t believe this. You are throwing away everything we had just for a passing whim?”



“I would not call this a passing whim,” came the careful explanation “And I would like to question the term ‘everything we had’. You left me two hundred years ago without contemplating our past much more than I do now.”



Lucrecia suddenly looked pleading and seeking for understanding as she explained “I had to do this, do not think it was easy for me!”



“I understand. But just like you had to follow what your heart dictated you then, I have to do so now. It is by no means easy for me. But I made my decision as well and I kindly ask you to accept it.”



The woman snorted, shaking her head and then saying acridly “So you are saying that you prefer that snot-nosed brat over me?”



“If you want to sum it up like that, please feel free to do so,” the vampire replied, sounding remarkably colder now. “However, I would prefer it if you would refrain from calling him such names.”



Looking at him in disbelief, a gleam of malice crept into her beautiful eyes, as she said, with the clear intend to hurt him “Sephiroth was right, you are a fool to let yourself be manipulated by a mere child.”



“At least I am not letting myself be used for questionable and cheap values by a lunatic,” he shot back, but closed his mouth instantly, shocked by his own words. Lucrecia wasn´t less bewildered. He had never raised his voice with her before, nor said such words!



He shook his head, leaning it back against the chair and tiredly saying “I am sorry. Please, could you leave now?”



The woman bit her lip, thinking and finally saying in a slow and heavy voice “If you throw me out now, I will be gone forever.”



“Shall I escort you to the door?” the other vampire suddenly stepped in, sounding very polite, but she wasn´t fooled. He was gloating, and he didn´t even try to hide it very well.



Lucrecia looked at Vincent again for an answer, deciding to just ignore the runt, but there was no reply whatsoever.



“Shall we then?” Yazoo had stopped beside her chair, looking down at her with a friendly smile, holding out his arm for her an a very sophisticated manner, but she shrank away from him, hissing “Don't you dare touch me..”



“I would not dream of it,” Yazoo replied sweetly “It could be contagious.”



She shook her head again, raising from her seat and saying bitterly “You know what, you truly deserve each other.”



“Why thank you.” The silver haired vampire cocked his head to the side in that manner of his and gestured towards the door.



Holding her head high she did not even do so much as spare them one last glance, grabbed her coat and made her exit.



As she marched out of the door, Yazoo waved behind her and watched as her coat was blown by the wind and only seconds later she had vanished into nothing.



A figure appeared behind him, staring at the spot where she had been just a moment ago.



“Let´s hear about your story now,” the younger one said, turning around and taking the others hand, drawing him inside again. With a last glance in the snowy white winter landscape, Vincent locked the door behind him and followed his friend into the dark castle.



tbc