The candles in the room had nearly burnt out by morning; [Y/n] sat in the corner, her knees pulled close to her chest. Every part of her screamed out in agony but she tried her hardest to ignore it. She didn't want to wake Kori. The male in question slept peacefully, his hand resting on the bloody weapon he'd dug into her skin the night before. Every now and then an unintelligible mumble would escape his lips.

Her memories of the night before were fuzzy after the first infliction. She remembered slipping in and out of consciousness, burning - a candle pressed against her skin. She remembered falling over multiple times but being forced on her feet again. The bruises and welts on her arms and legs told her all that she needed to know. In a way, she was glad she couldn't totally remember the night before. Perhaps it was better staying that way.

[Y/n] was distracted from her train of thought as all the candles in the room went out at exactly the same time. This wouldn't have been as creepy if they hadn't been all of different heights and burning rates and if they'd all been lit at the same time, but it was immediately obvious that they had been blown out. Kori was awake.

She detected very quiet movement at the other side of the room. Shuffling and fabrics rubbing against one another. Then, an eerie hum. It grew louder and louder, closer and closer, before suddenly a lighter flicked open right in front of [Y/n]'s face. She took a startled step back at the person who stared through the dancing flame and into her eyes, his face having only been about three inches away from hers.

"Boo," he giggled happily, walking over to the candles he'd blown out and relighting them. [Y/n]'s breathing pattern quickened and she had to force it into long, deep breaths to prevent the onset of a panic attack. He frowned at this, sitting on the edge of his bed and staring over at her with sad eyes.

"Did I scare you last night?" he asked softly. "I'm sorry. Come here," he said, patting beside him, beckoning for her to come and sit next to him on his bed. [Y/n] didn't move. She stayed beside the door, her body trembling. "Butterfly, I know I said you were vulnerable but something as mild as that isn't supposed to break you," he sighed. "If you break that quickly then I don't know how many times I'll be able to fix you. I might be forced to put you though that on a daily basis. You know, to toughen you up a little."

"I want to leave," was [Y/n]'s simple response.

"Not until you come and sit next to me," Kori shot back, his voice a little irritated. "Perhaps I was a bit harsh on you..." he trailed off. "B-but, you do understand, right? It's all—"

"It's all for me?" [Y/n] echoed. "Shoving a shuriken in my back is all for me? Am I supposed to thank you now? Oh, thank you so much for stabbing me, burning me and whatever the fuck else you did." [Y/n]'s words dripped with sarcasm and burnt through Kori like acid. He stared at her, his eyes hurt.

"Your words are more painful than any blade, [Y/n]," Kori responded, "your actions torture me more than any physical weapon ever could. Can't you see that?" he said softly, his eyes glazed over with a glistening sheen of tears that threatened to fall. "But... I'm hoping now you'll learn that your actions have consequences. My little butterfly... we're of the same age now, you know? So you don't have to find me caring for you weird anymore." He then patted beside him again. "Come and sit beside me. If you do, I'll unlock the door."

"And if I don't?" she responded coldly.

"Then you'll stay here and I'll continue training you." Training? [Y/n] thought, her eyes widening as she grew angrier and angrier. She'd never been an irascible person - her friends could be pretty volatile at times but she'd always been very laid back and calm in almost every situation. This was not like her. Even still, somehow, she understood she had to set that anger aside for the greater good. Sucking in the pride and self confidence that she didn't even know she had, [Y/n] lowered her head and slowly, painfully, made her way over to Kori. She winced as she sat beside him and even more so when he wrapped his arms around her, burying his face into the crook of her neck and inhaling her scent.

"You're so fragile," his whispered, his breath tickling her causing an involuntary shiver to catch her by surprise. Kori chuckled lightly at this. "I feel like you could just crumble in my arms. Like—"

"Please stop comparing me to a butterfly," [Y/n] said quietly. Kori raised an eyebrow.

"Why? It suits you so well. They're alluring, captivating, sometimes innocent, sometimes provocative... so fragile. They're hard to catch, but if you do it right you'll find yourself with one of nature's finest beauties." He paused, placing his hand under [Y/n]'s chin to force her to look at him. "Even a butterfly with torn wings is beautiful, my sweet [Y/n]," he said softly, "I would love nothing more to see you take flight - to see you whole and complete. But... if you force me to, I'll have no problem with tearing you apart." He sighed, looking down. "Even in death, butterflies are beautiful. Though, I hope we never fall that far."

Shaking, [Y/n] struggled to think.

"Can you unlock the door?" she asked quietly, staring at Kori with a blank expression. He paused and nodded, pulling his hand from her chin and delicately stroking her jaw before standing up and taking a key from his pocket, unlocking the door. He opened it and stared over at [Y/n] with a sad expression. She immediately stood up and made a beeline for the door, not saying a word to him as she stepped out into the corridor and made her way to her room.

The walk was painful. Every step made her want to crumble in a heap on the floor and cry out in pain. When she finally pushed the door to her room open, she stared straight towards her bed in a longing manner. She wanted to sleep - she hadn't gotten a second of rest the night before.

"[Y/n]... what did he do?"

At first, [Y/n]'s pain-deluded mind thought it was her conscience calling out to her - a voice in her head wishing her well. The only thing she could rely on.

"[Y/n]? He hurt you, didn't he? You look... so fragile. Let me see - let me help you." It was when physical contact met [Y/n]'s sensitive shoulders that she realised the voice wasn't in her head. Green eyes and raven hair - almost her height - she realised Aytsa stood before her. [Y/n] stared at him dully, her eyes glazed over with pain and exhaustion. "[Y/n]? Please, talk to me." Still unresponsive, [Y/n] stumbled back a little, her feet struggling to keep her up.

"I'm gonna kill him..." Aytsa muttered darkly, "I'm gonna rip that bastard to shreds. You hear? That— that scumbag needs to know his boundaries." Unknowingly, Aytsa had managed to corner [Y/n]. Ridden with rage, he stared at [Y/n] with angered eyes. "You need to tell me what he did to you."

"Aytsa... I'm tired," [Y/n] responded quietly, "please leave me alone."

"Don't defend him, [Y/n]," Aytsa spat, "tell me what he did, now. Or I'll find out myself."

"Please Aytsa," [Y/n] looked down. "This isn't fair." Aytsa stared at her for a moment, his gaze softening slightly, before one of his hands pressed against her neck. It was harsh enough for her to feel slight discomfort, but not harsh enough to hurt her.

"No, [Y/n], what you're doing isn't fair. I can go two ways; I can be the kind and caring person who I'm sure you want me to be, or I can be like him - worse than him," he said calmly, "and neither of us want the latter, so you need to help me be the former. Tell me what he did to you."

"I—"

Just as [Y/n] was about to tell him 'I refuse', the pressure on her neck was lifted, and soon enough he was torn away from her altogether. [Y/n] narrowed her eyes to make out who had pulled Aytsa off her - sleep deprivation and pain made her sight blur and warp, but she soon made sense of the scene before her. Her eyes widened.

"Nyais," she whispered, not sure whether to feel relieved, happy, sad or angry. Nyais looked over at her with a soft expression before his eyes hardened on the boy he held by the collar in front of him. In his eyes wasn't mere anger or disgust; there was a deep, underlying look of hatred. [Y/n] didn't understand it, but it was clear as day. Even Aytsa understood it was there, despite being confused as to why. Nyais then dropped him, pointing to the door wordlessly, his eyes dark.

Aytsa walked slowly to the door; his eyes never strayed from Nyais as though he was expecting to be attacked. When he left the room, he quickly shut the door behind him, seemingly glad to get out of Nyais' line of vision.

"Nyais— where were you?" [Y/n] asked quietly. The violet eyed male sighed and took [Y/n]'s hand, leading her over to her bed. He sat her down (mindful of her injuries) and then sat beside her.

"It's... complicated. I had a run-in with someone I— someone I'm not on the best terms with," he sighed. "I just needed a bit of recovery time," he looked away. [Y/n] looked at her lap and nodded slowly.

"B-but couldn't you hear... hear what happened...?" she asked quietly. "Y-you said... you said you'd be there b-but—"

"I will," Nyais said quickly. [Y/n] looked from her lap up to Nyais; it was only then that she noticed the tears that clouded over his gaze. "I was locked in Rayne's lab," he sighed, "I knew what was going on but he kept me down there. I'm so sorry, [Y/n]."

"Rayne...? As in, the author?" she asked quietly. Nyais nodded.

"Yes. You must never speak to him, [Y/n]. If he comes here, lock yourself in your room. He's a dangerous man." [Y/n] slowly dipped her head in acknowledgement of Nyais' warning. The pair locked eyes for a moment before both looked away from one another simultaneously. [Y/n] stared at her feet, a little lost for words.

"I've... made some arrangements with Olli," Nyais said quietly. [Y/n] raised her head to look at him. He looked over at the wall, his fingers intertwined, pulling away from one another yet being defied by friction and staying tightly woven. "At the moment of the twenty second day, I'll come and retrieve you. You'll live with me from then on." He paused, before his cheeks heated up a little. "Uh, unless you'd rather live on your own. That'd be fine, it's just—" Nyais cut himself on when he noticed the bright smile on [Y/n]'s face. He visibly relaxed, smiling softly.

"I would love to stay with you," she said softly. She didn't miss the visible relief that crossed Nyais' countenance after her words. Seeing him at ease seemed to calm her down as well.

"Thank you. I assure you, I will keep you safe." He paused, looking over at her door. "The boys will be in training for the first week; that is unless Olli has other plans. He said something about-" he cut himself off, "actually, it doesn't matter. Um... yeah... where was I?" he sighed, tilting his head slightly. "Oh, yes. Just so I know how to prepare things... do you have any hobbies or interests? Any specific items you'd like me to add to our house?" [Y/n] thought for a moment before shaking her head.

"I... I like to read," she said quietly, "but you don't have to—"

"I'll get books, then," Nyais cut her off with a smile. [Y/n] shook her head lightheartedly at his actions before her expression grew ponderous. "What's wrong?" Nyais asked.

"I... I was wondering," [Y/n] began hesitantly, "I've been thinking a bit about... about the visions you showed me," she explained. Nyais nodded slowly, encouraging her to continue. "S-specifically the first one. The doctor you were mad at... your wife..." she trailed off. "I just... just wanted to ask... did Dr Rayne kill your wife...?"

Nyais stared at her for a moment, looking straight into her eyes. He slowly shook her head.

"No. Leya died in childbirth," he muttered quietly.

"Then... excuse me for asking, but... why do you hate Rayne so much? Surely there are other vampires who are just as bad as him? A-and... if Leya died in childbirth, why have you never mentioned your child to me...? I'm sorry if I'm being insensitive but I just really feel that I... I should know."

"I understand your curiosity," Nyais began carefully. "I never mentioned a child because I don't have a child." [Y/n] nodded, expecting this was probably Nyais' way of telling her that any child he might've had died with Leya. "As for my hatred of Rayne... you would hate him like I do too if you had spent as much time with him as I have. We have a lot of history. It's... a long story."

"I'm sorry," [Y/n] said softly. "Uh... o-one more thing," she said quietly. Nyais nodded, an eyebrow raising as he encouraged her to continue once more. "C-can you show me a vision of Leya...? I-it's just... she's a massive part of you and I want to understand more," she sighed. Nyais looked thoughtful for a while before slowly shaking his head.

"I'm afraid I can't do that. It's... difficult."

[Y/n] dipped her head in respect of this before apologising for putting him in that situation. He acknowledged this. The positive mood from before had dampened into something more somber and reflective; neither spoke for a while, both lost in thought.

"I... I made you lunch," Nyais finally broke the silence. "It's a— ah, what's the word...? A... a curry?" [Y/n] nodded, her expression showing a little surprise.

"You didn't have to, Nyais," [Y/n] said softly.

"I didn't want a repeat of the last time you forgot to eat," Nyais shrugged. [Y/n] nodded in understanding.

"Thank you very much."

The conversation was awkwardly still for a while. Both parties stood rigid, neither meeting the gaze of the other as they fidgeted with their hands and tried to distract themselves from thinking. Even still, [Y/n]'s mind was plagued with questions, then memories, then memories with questions, then questions regarding memories, then:

"Nyais...?"

"Yes?" he hummed, his expression a little tired as he awaited yet another question.

"Why did I wake up twice the other day?"

Nyais stared for a while. His expression was entirely emotionless and his eyes didn't change in the slightest. "You must've dreamt it," he responded levelly. [Y/n] stared at the floor before slowly nodding. "You look exhausted. Come on, let's get you something to eat."

Next chapter: Day 20 and The Only One Left