Edited the first chapter a little bit. Hopefully, it's readable now.

I found myself imprisoned in the Shiki mansion by a series of events too boring to recount and absolutely not because that is an account of my idiocy. If my handlers were correct, I was about to be sacrificed to who I could only assume to be Rido Kuran's regenerating body.

The timing of my capture coincided with an official soiree at the mansion, so I was kept in the dungeon, the same dungeon where Rido's body was kept. The metallic scent of blood permeated the whole dungeon chilling my bones.

Tip Tip.

Tip Tip.

There went the last victim's blood into the tub holding Rido's body and with it my chance to escape. They would come for me next, anytime now.

From the moment I found myself in this world till this moment, I was still not sure if everything that was happening to me was real. But the pain in my bruised limbs, the coppery taste of blood in my mouth from a particularly nasty hit and the screams of my deceased cell-mates were too real to be anything but. My knowledge about these people was supposed to be an advantage. Turns out, information from a show for teenage girls was about as useful as knowledge of America from Gossip Girl, which was nada.

About the time I was giving up hope, the door creaked and in came an ominous kid with mismatched eyes that made me wonder if I was off the frying pan and straight into the fire. Really, was a sleeping Rido more dangerous or an awake one? Wait, I was going to get killed either way, wasn't I? Besides, in his kid form, the worst he could do was to suck my energy through touch like vampire kids did and I could probably overpower him in his kid form. This was a chance I had to take.

So without further ado, I tried to get his attention to my cell. When calling did not work, I cut my hand a little on the bars of the door and the blood got his attention. "You are so healthy and yummy big sis, can I kiss you?" the kid said.

"But I am inside the cell, can you come inside?" I was counting on Rido's greed no matter which form he was in.

So I receded into the darkness of the cell and waited. As the bars were unlocked and he stepped sufficiently further from the opening, I pounced, kicked him aside, got out of the cell and locked him inside. Then I made a run for the open dungeon door.

I ran up the stairs, through the deserted underground corridors in search of the entrance above. Soon people (vampires?) were on my tail. How? I was sneaky enough, and the only person aware of my escape should be locked in the cell! Then I remembered the cut in my hand and cursed. It was just a scratch but to vampire senses it was painting a target on my back. I had the sinking feeling I could not outrun vampires and soon my escape was blocked by them.

Not about to give up, I took the opposite turn and walked into a brightly lit place with a gathering of…vampires….oh shit! This must be the soiree. Wait, depending on the nature of the soiree, my luck might have improved or tanked. What were the odds that a soiree in the Shiki mansion was a gathering of moderates attended by vampire hunters? Well, in the worst case I was dead regardless and trying might give me a chance at survival.

The good thing was no one was snatching at me yet but was giving me way even though their eyes were red. They were aware I was a human lamb amidst the predators. I was trying to locate a vampire hunter. Surely they would be sympathetic to my plight, but soon had to give up that plan as my pursuers made way towards me through the crowd and I had to simply move opposite which landed me at the center of the room with a dark haired man standing separated from others.

His presence was a shock to the senses cutting through the fog of fear in my mind. He was beautiful, they all were, the vampires, but his regal bearing, the way his eyes were partially amused and partially demanded answer, held me transfixed for precious moments. He couldn't be…. Could he? Chocolate brown hair and eyes… Dare I hope?

By the time I was debating the pros and cons of addressing him, my pursuers were upon us. In unison, they bowed to him, "Lord Kaname," they said and I heaved a sigh of relief, surely the kindhearted Kaname Kuran, the champion of pacifism will save me like he saved Yuki on a snowy night?

"Sorry to impose the presence of this dirty human on you. We will shortly remove her from here".

Wait, did they just make it sound like I was barging on the party? I lashed out, "Please lord Kaname, I am here against my will and they are after my blood, please help me".

"Nonsense, this thief barged into the estate and destroyed private property and upon capture we found out it's an illegal alien with no citizenship papers on her. By law, the state is not accountable for her. She has agreed to work here for some time, to pay for the damaged property of course, if we do not hand her over to the authorities."

What a bald faced lie! Surely Kaname will not believe that.

"Is that so?" Kaname frowned, then his features hardened and he shrugged, "then off with her".

He did not believe the lie, I think none in presence believed, but the vampire polite society tolerated theses sins (preying on unwilling humans despite the truce) under plausible deniability, I came to realize. But the "betrayal" of Kaname Kuran hurt the most.

Didn't he profess to believe in pacifism? Shouldn't he come to the rescue of a poor human? But now that I think, he was only kind to Yuki and in fact, could be cruel to others if it was to protect Yuki, wasn't he? Could it be that he is tolerating this because he cannot yet openly defy the senate and certainly not for an inconsequential human?

Considering this was the villa of Shiki's great uncle who was a senior member of the senate, this made perfect sense. That would also mean it's no use bringing up that Rido was here, since Kaname already knew and was unable to do anything at the moment and would not want to show his cards besides. But there was something that just might work.

The vampire guards caught my hands and shoulders and started to drag me away. I bit on hands, stomped on feet, shook off my captors with all my strength and ran to Kaname. I caught his lapels to pull him down and whispered in his ear, "I will tell them about your sister if you do not save me".

An invisible force flung me out and left me hanging foots above ground while choking on an invisible fist. Stormy red eyes were regarding me with disbelief and anger. I might have heard a collective gasp. Oh shit! Wong calculation. He may as well get rid of me and his secret now and no one here will bat an eye. I remembered how he had threatened to kill Aido if he knew something regarding the circumstances of his parents' death.

I felt my stomach drop to my knees. I tried to speak through the choke-hold, "Others know", but the choke-hold only got firmer and I was seeing stars. I would later wonder why he did not kill me instantly, may be curiosity about how I knew and if I had accomplices who need to be eliminated.

If I could think properly at that time, I might have taken console at the knowledge that he would not leave me here, nor kill me at least till he tortured the secret out of me. As such, I was distraught about my impending death and trying to remain conscious.

"I am taking this insolent human with me", Kaname dismissed my pursuers in a tone that brooked no opposition.

Their leader was rubbing his hands and trying to peek at someone in the crowd, "But my lord, why dirty your hands and waste your time with such trifle? We of the senate will deal with this and ensure the proper punishment for this transgression of heckling a pureblood".

"Are you denying me the human? I said I will take her with me. In fact, I will compensate for the damage for which she was meant to work".

Their strong reluctance to hand me over was looking suspicious even to me. I mean they could find another blood bag unaccountable illegal immigrant easily enough. Why cross a pureblood on that?

At this, the Senator Shiki stepped out of the gawking crowd.

"Lord Kaname, my humble apologies. But I cannot give you the girl. She is a "calix sanguinis" and by vampire law older than the senate, founder is the keeper. The younger generation may not know it since one has not been found in centuries. But surely you, the scion of the Kuran Clan will uphold the laws of your ancestors?"

The senator seemed to have scored a point if the murmuring crowd was to be believed.

Kaname narrowed his eyes and I felt a pull. The next second he was behind me, bending my neck to the side and biting down. I cried out in surprise and pain but found a hand clamped on my mouth.

The pain was excruciating and I was cursing in my head whoever invented the theory that the bite was supposed to be pleasurable. Oh I know, it was Yuki's eagerness for Zero's bites that fanned the rumors. I would have sainted her right about now if I could.

More than the pain, the sheer helplessness of my situation got to me. I was unable to move my limbs or fight back. Never in my life have I been physically attacked like that and so totally in another's control. I wasn't used to physical violence. I could understand Zero's bite phobia. An excruciating moment later it was over. My neck was still throbbing.

"Now that was according to tradition wasn't it? Does anyone want to challenge my claim?" Kaname asked in that deep tone of his that hinted at impending violence despite its calm.

There was a murmur going on but Kaname was only looking at a beautiful woman with a curly blond hair who could only be another pureblood from the way other people were deferring to her. Evidently she was the only challenge in the room.

The staring contest was only broken when senator Shiki quipped in, "You are making a mistake lord Kaname. Do you even comprehend the gravity of what you did? I thought you wanted peace in that Cross Academy of yours. Now every pureblood seeking power and prestige will come challenge you and every opportunist lower rank will want a bite. I would suggest you get all her blood now and kill her. That would save you a lot of trouble."

What? Shut up you old geezer! Planning my death was not enough, now you are inciting others to commit murder!

"I think our business here is concluded. Let's go Takuma", Kaname called out and only then I noticed a worried looking blond detach himself from the crowd which was not how I imagined the usually cheerful vice-dorm-president to be.

I was shepherded up the stairs to the entrance and into a sleek black vehicle. I considered escape when I was out in the open. But even if that was not impossible, Kaname was the only one between me and that blood thirsty horde. So I restrained myself and got into the car like an obedient girl.

Due to my ordeal I was avoiding looking at him. But now that he sat right across me, I could not avoid checking him out. He seemed to be in his early twenties but I was no expert on vampire especially pureblood aging.

On that account, a horrible realization dawned on me: now that I am bitten by a pureblood, I will descend to Level E unless I get his blood, won't I? Why didn't he give me his blood? Is that because he does not mean to keep me alive for long?

"Why don't you give me your blood?" That got his attention.

His eyes narrowed and the temperature dropped a couple of degrees, "Do you want my blood?"

I felt my fate hinged on the answer. "Well I would fall to Level E if you don't."

He shared a look with Takuma and the atmosphere cleared.

He had a faraway look on his face. "How come you know about my sister when you don't know about yourself?"

He must be talking about that calix whatever thing Senator Shiki mentioned. Frankly, I had no clue and I wanted to know. I meant to keep silent about my ignorance and hopefully someone would let something slip on the assumption that I already knew. But that strategy was bust since I seem to have let my ignorance slip somehow. I could ask him but he had no obligation to tell me the whole truth and likely to take advantage of my ignorance to his ends.

A major reason was his suspicions around my circumstances and justifiably so considering I was threatening his sister moments ago. Now would be a good time to clear that. This might also improve my chances of survival.

But even if I would like to be forthcoming, the truth would be incredible. Even I need a chance to look into it and given his reaction to me till now, I won't risk it. "It was a calculated guess". Kaname raised his brow.

"I was kept in a dungeon of that mansion where some "Lord Rido's" body is regenerating," I said testing his reaction. He didn't seem surprised. So, I continued.

"I heard he was reduced to that state by you 10 years ago which coincides with the time your parents died. My guess is, he is the reason for their death and you took revenge, but it is odd he could kill two millennia old purebloods but succumbed to a mere child and also that you did not kill him before he killed your parents. One reason could be they had someone to protect, their child," I was fibbing with all my non-existent lying skills and hoping he would not call my bluff.

"It could be a brother and they may even be dead. But obviously I took a huge risk what with blackmailing a pureblood and all. But I was desperate, you know because of some people's indifference to the plight of humans!" I could not help adding.

"For an immigrant human, you know a lot about purebloods. The death of my parents, in fact, the existence of vampires is not public knowledge, neither is my sister's name." He looked amused and irritated at the same time.

Shit! That was a mistake.

"I might have heard-" I began.

"Save it, I don't want to hear your lies. Sooner or later I will know your truth." He made it sound like a promise.

"What is Calix sanguinis? And what do you want to do with me?" I asked.

Kaname looked outside the window of the car. Night was at its end but dawn was hours away. He had a distant look in his face.

"Calix sanguinis or "cup of blood" as the ancient words once meant, is a human whose blood is the most palatable."

"And powerful", I chipped in, "the red haired guy did mention power-seeking vampires hunting me down."

"And powerful to a vampire", Kaname agreed.

"How powerful? You know, on a scale of ordinary humans to purebloods?"

"Above all of them". My brow was in danger of being lost in my hairline.

"You mean I am secretly more powerful than a pureblood?" Someone laughed out. It wasn't Kaname.

The vice-dorm-president who was observing me till now was back in his jolly mood. "Not to bust your bubble Miss…err…you are?"

Someone finally needed my name! "I am J-Jane Doe." Not that I needed to lie but by now it had become a habit. Besides, if my presence here was not a coincidence, then someone undesirable might know my name.

"You see Miss Doe," wao! I was in a land where people did not get suspicious by the name Jane Doe! "Your blood is potent for a vampire. But, you are not powerful because of it. Fear not, since Kaname will now protect you."

He was blind to Kaname's ambitions as usual. Now that I had more information however, I could safely say that Kaname Kuran would never let me fall into the hands of his enemies. But was I safe from him?

"So what do you plan to do with me?" I asked Kaname.

He turned towards me with an annoyed look, sighed then looked away without answering. As he peered into the darkness outside, his jaws relaxed and he had a distant look on his face.