This chapter might be slightly confusing to those who have not watched Vanitas no Carte or read the manga.
Your eyes flit around, trying to make sense of the brightness around you.
As your eyes adjust, you see the streets of 1900's France before you, flower petals scattered in the sky, carriages carrying couples and vibrant colored stores full of curiosities and new inventions of the time.
What? You were just talking to Dazai. Why were you back in France?
"Oi, [N/n]. Stop staring at the streets and let's get going." That voice- you turn to see Vanitas before you. But you do not dare to break down or cry. Well, it was more like your body wouldn't allow you to.
"Ah, right. Let's get going." You smile at him sincerely, just like you used to.
He walks away, the street crumbling and disappearing.
Then, he vanishes Into the dark.
Ice starts to blanket the blank void, and snow starts to appear, then pine trees? The sky was dark, and no stars were seen. Only a brilliant blue moon brightened the abyssal sky.
Was this inside your soul? Were you only dreaming?
"My, my... it's been so long since I've last seen someone here." The voice that was suddenly in your ear sounds distorted and corrupt.
Naenia.
"No... Why are you here?" No, this can't be true. Why is Naenia here? Has she always been here?
Naenia was the vampire queen's malady, but she was killed! So how, why is she in your soul?
Did she survive and get her way into your soul?
As you stare into the dark figure, its dark, wispy black hands land on your cheeks, its touch like icicles being pressed into your skin.
You were forced to face the dark entity.
Then its eyes were the only thing you saw.
The background being filled with ink
Its glowing red eyes stared at you.
—
You wake up in cold sweat. You'd rather never have that dream again.
Wait, wasn't today the day that Dazai will give Atsushi the entrance exam?
What time was it? Finally thinking clearly again, you check your clock.
3:56 AM
The red flashing numbers on your alarm clock had essentially yelled at you, and your eyes closed at the brightness.
Well, you definitely weren't sleeping anytime soon. You might as well have breakfast now.
But what were you going to make? It's likely you don't have much in your fridge since you just moved into the ADA's assigned apartment.
You open your fridge to see an orange and a carton of milk.
Well, guess you can starve then. Because you were not going to eat the only two things in your fridge right away like an impulsive person would.
You were actually quite rational because of your upbringing.
Speaking of upbringing, you look at the blue web-like mark on your arm. Is there even any more of your kin still alive out there?
You don't dwell in the thought for long as you cover up your mark with bandages, grab your book and walk outside to get some fresh air.
—
As you walk down the lonely and dark streets of Yokohama, you feel as if something is wrong.
Very wrong.
It was a good call taking your book with you.
You hear a loud clattering noise coming from an alleyway, and you instinctively start speeding up your pace.
You reach the alleyway the sound originated from, and without hesitation take a step into the narrow tunnel.
"Who are you? S-stay away!" A feminine voice resonates from the dark crevices of the alley. You catch the right of glowing red eyes. A Vampire.
As you inch closer, you can see that this vampire was definitely scared. Perhaps they are being hunted by a chasseur?
Blood drips from their face as you get a closer look at the figure.
The girl had black hair and green eyes. They didn't look past 12 years old, but you know not to assume ages. Then they speak again.
"I said stay away!" The small vampire lunges at you, but using the Book of Vanitas you paralyze the girl.
"Child of the blood moon, what has happened to you?" You make your voice as authoritative as possible to get your message across.
"T-The... Port M-Mafia..." The vampire, which you now realize is most likely a child, starts to wail.
Not really knowing what to do, you pat her head.
You felt bad for yelling at her.
"Alright, why don't we go to my place for the time being? Nobody can hurt you if I'm there to protect you." You reassure the child, your voice now a lot softer. But then you start to wonder. Why would the Port Mafia target a vampire?
You shift your focus to the child again. You see the slightest nod of the head, and you pick her up and carry her back to your apartment.
—
"Are you really... related to the blue moon vampire?" The girl shakily speaks, her voice barely a whisper.
"Yeah, but us blue moons aren't like those silly bedtime stories you were likely told. In fact, we're just like normal vampires." You plainly speak as you search your cabinet for the first aid kit
Aha. There it was. You grab the small red box and walk towards the child. You grab a soft towel and wipe off any blood on her face, then open up the first aid kit and start disinfecting the wound, much to the raveonette's dismay.
"So, what's your name?" In a stupid attempt to distract the girl, you ask a simple question.
"I-It's Mary." You smile as you hear the girl's once soft voice get ever so slightly louder.
"Alright Mary, would you like to stay at my place for now? Just until sunrise, of course. Then I'll bring you back to your home." You finish off tying the bandages and take a look at the girl again.
She looked so... relieved. That wasn't the normal reaction you'd receive after saving a vampire. But it was nice to see a change for once.
"That would be nice." She says. God, you nearly wanted to adopt her.
Wait.
Did she have parents?
Or even relatives?
Oh great heavens, there might be some distraught mother out there searching for her daughter!
"Ah, before I forget, do you have any relatives that I could bring you to?" You ask. Mary nods her head.
"I live with my older sister. But... She was taken by the Port Mafia." The poor child's voice cracks, and her eyes water.
"Alright, we'll find your sister when the time comes as well. In fact, I could file a case for you at the detective agency I work for, if you want." You give a reassuring look to the child, but knowing the PM, and seeing how badly beaten up Mary was, chances are her sister was already dead.
You should stop speaking lies.
—
A/n
Kind of a filler chapter, sorry :'D
Do you readers want Mary's story to become a side chapter later on in the series, or should I just keep this mystery unsolved?
On another note, 170 reads?? What the heck. I didn't expect people to read this shitty book...
Well, I'll see you next chapter, I guess.
2.1.23