A/N I don't own Vampire Knight nor do I make any profit from it

Chapter 25 - Awakening of the Pureblood Queen

Senna led her Reina and Kagami down the dark corridor, lighting a flaming torch to illuminate the chillingly pitch black corridor. Reina found Kagami's hand in the dim light and held it tightly. She could feel her parents' presence becoming stronger and stronger as they approached the chamber which held her parents' bodies.

"I can feel them, Kagami," Reina said softly, "I am nervous."

"Don't worry, Reina-sama," Kagami replied, "You will be fine."

Kagami knew that this was a dangerous situation. Reina's parents were extremely volatile when half asleep. She turned her head to Reina who had gone white with anticipation, "You're as white as a ghost, Reina-sama, there's still time to turn back."

"I can't do that, Kagami," Reina replied, "I have come this far."

"But there's no guarantee that you will not be hurt," Kagami said with panic in her voice, "You maybe their daughter but they will be blood lusting to the extreme. They have not drank any blood in nearly two years."

"I am aware of that," Reina said, "But, this is an opportunity not to be missed. I need to ask them."

Kagami nodded and sighed dejectedly, "Fine." placed it in the lock, turning it until there was a resounding click. Senna opened the door and beckoned the two women to follow. Reina hesitated

Soon, they stopped at a heavy wooden door with a lock made out of anti vampire metal. Senna pulled out another key and a moment, "Princess Reina, you may proceed," Senna said emotionlessly.

"I know," Reina said in a whisper, "I just need a moment."

Kagami and Senna watched the pureblood as she fiddled with the edge of her white uniform skirt and then the ends of her ebony ringleted locks. Kagami likened her to a nervous child, "Take as much time as you need, Reina-sama."

Reina jumped slightly at the sound of her voice after it had been so silent, "Oh, yes, I know," Reina moved her foot in front of her but hesitated again. Steeling herself, she plucked up her courage and slowly and tentatively walked inside. Senna lit one of the lamps and the other lamps lit simultaneously, lighting up the room in warm lamp light. However, a shiver went down Reina's spine as she saw the intricately stone coffins where her parents lay in a death-like sleep.

"Senna, please open the coffins," Reina whispered, "Let me see my parents faces."

Senna placed the flaming torch in a stand and walked over the nearest coffin. With an almighty push, the lid of the stone coffin revealed the pale yet beautiful face of her mother. Her hair, which was not unlike her daughter's, was still shiny and beautiful, bringing out the pale beauty. She was wearing a white cotton gown.

"Senna, please hand me that dagger," Reina said.

"What for," Senna asked, getting defensive.

"Don't worry, Senna, it's to give her my blood," Reina reassured her. Senna hesitated for a moment before handing her a silver knife. Reina examined the filigree design on the small knife. Kagami placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you sure that you want to go through with this," she asked and Reina nodded as she pressed the knife hesitantly to the palm of her hand. With one quick and deep cut, Reina slashed her hand and let her pureblood drip into her mother's parted mouth,

"Mother," Reina whispered, "Wake up."

Suddenly, Reina's mother's eyes snapped open. Her were as red as the pureblood running through her veins. She sat up bolt upright and roughly grabbed her by the wrist, almost crushing it in her grasp. Reina cried out in shock and pain, "Mother, let go!"

Reiko Sakurakoji turned her head to her frightened daughter and narrowed her eyes at her. Her breathing was ragged as she roughly pulled Reina over so that her neck was in line with her mouth.

Savagely, she bit into Reina's neck, causing the young pureblood to scream out in agony. Kagami fidgeted uncomfortably and with distress, knowing that she couldn't come between a two purebloods when one of them had bared their fangs.

Reina's pathetic whimpers echoed throughout the room. She could feel her hand going dead due to the crushingly tight grip upon her slender wrist. Distressed by this, Kagami watched as Reina's legs began to buckle underneath her and the colour was beginning to drain from her features.

"Reiko-obasama," Kagami whimpered. She raced forwards tried to pry her fingers away from Reina's wrist, "Reiko-obasama, please stop! You're killing her! You're killing your own daughter."

Reiko's eyes opened a little and she eyed her out of the corner of her eye. Kagami tried to drag Reina away from her mother but Reiko flicked a hand and sent her niece flying towards the opposite wall with a scream from Kagami. Rubble went everywhere as the young woman made contact with the wall, leaving a large hole in the ancient stone. Her blood splattered all over the floor, making the blood lusting woman even more lost in her meal. Senna simply stood by and didn't intervene.

Kagami staggered to her feet and after a few failed attempts. Her eyes watered with the pain in the back of her head and her muscles screamed in protest as she tried to move, "Reina… sama…" she whispered, gritting her teeth.

Suddenly, Reiko stopped drinking and her eyes went back to being their light blue colour. She blinked and looked around, as if she didn't know what was going on or where she was. Reiko looked down at the limp body lying over her, "Reina," she whispered and she looked up at Kagami who was leaning on the coffin for support, "Kagami," she glanced over to the other coffin which held her husband.

"Moth…er…," Reina whispered as she tried to pull herself up to face her, "Welcome back."

Reiko blinked again, "Reina, I'm so sorry; I didn't know what I was doing. Please forgive me. However, I must ask, why have you woken me up?"

Reina tried to speak but, due to her weakened state, the words wouldn't come out. Kagami spoke for her, "She needs to talk to you, Reiko-obasama."

Reiko pulled Reina into her arms so that she was sitting in her lap, "Dearest," she said as she caressed her cheek, "I'm sorry. Here, please have my blood," she bit into her own wrist so that there was a deep wound. She placed her wrist to her daughter's lips and Reina tentatively licked. Gaining confidence, she grasped hold of her mother's wrist and sucked hungrily. Reiko wrapped an arm around her shoulders, stroking her hair comfortingly.

"Thank you," Reina said as she pulled away. Reiko looked up at Kagami and offered her wrist to her.

"Oh no, Obasama, I couldn't," Kagami said nervously.

"I hurt you too, please, it is the least I can do," Reiko said kindly. Kagami hesitated for a moment before kneeling down in front of her aunt and took her wrist into her hand before placing her lips upon the wound and licking tentatively. When Kagami finished, Reiko gently stroked her hair, "Now, I'd better get out of this coffin. Don't wake your uncle, Kagami, he's worse than me."

"I'll try not to," Kagami said as she helped Reina to her feet. Reiko placed her hands on the sides of the stone coffin and stood up nervously. Reina and Kagami held out their hands so that she could hold on as she stepped out. As she did so, she turned to Senna.

"Senna, I must thank you for guarding this place so well," she said with a small smile. Senna fell to her knees and bowed her head, kissing her hand.

"It is an honour to have you back, my queen," Senna said reverently. Reiko nodded and Senna stood up. Reiko sniffed and frowned.

"Who is that I smell," she asked, "It is not a scent I recognise."

"My lover is here, mother," Reina said and Reiko turned to her head to her.

"Who is he," she asked in an unreadable tone and Reina swallowed hard.

"His name is Takuma Ichijo," Reina answered, "The grandson of Asato Ichijo."

Reiko stared at her silently before walking through the archway and disappearing down the dark corridor. Reina and Kagami looked at each other before running to the door. Suddenly, Reiko appeared with Takuma in her grasp, "Mother, I can explain-"

"You didn't tell me he was cute," Reiko said, pinching the nervous boy's cheeks and cutting her daughter off.

Reina and Kagami looked at each other, clearly confused, "You think he's cute?"

"Yes," Reiko said playfully. Takuma laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head.

"You're too kind," he said as he laughed. Reiko pulled him down by his collar so that his face was in line with hers.

"You seem like a trustworthy person," Reiko said, "Do you love my daughter, Takuma-kun?"

"Takuma-kun," Reina thought incredulously.

Takuma looked up at Reina and smiled, causing Reina to blush heatedly, "Yes, I love her with all my heart."

"Hmmm," Reiko tapped her chin with her finger thoughtfully, "You're worthy. Now I want some tea. Senna, stop looking miserable and make us some tea."

Senna's eyes widened dramatically but she nodded curtly, "As you wish, Reiko-sama."

She walked out and Reiko suddenly noticed something odd, "What are you all wearing?"

"We are wearing school uniforms," Reina replied.

"School uniforms," Reiko asked, "You go to school?"

"Yes, Obasama, to Cross Academy, a school for both humans and vampires," Kagami said with a smile, "We are students of the Night Class."

"Is it really safe," Reiko asked, "How are the humans kept safe?"

"Well, we stay in the Moon Dorm whilst the Day Class have their classes and the Day Class stay in their Sun Dorm whilst we have our lessons. We have a very strict Dorm/Class president who goes by the unfortunate name of Kaname Kuran," Reina chuckled.

"Ah, the Kuran boy, huh," Reiko pondered, "I always thought he was a bit too stiff and straight laced. He is a bit unfortunate in my mind."

"Yeah," Reina said, "He is."

"Come, let us go to the drawing room and we can talk there," Reiko said as she lead the younger vampires away and up into the main part of the house. The servants scurried about to their posts, panicked by the sudden awakening of their queen. Reiko literally skipped down the corridor to the drawing room, causing her daughter to smile in amusement.

"It's nice to be awake again," Reiko said as she sat down on one of the chaises, "Well, you said that you wanted to talk to me about something, Reina, I'm in a good mood. Please tell your old mum about it."

Reina sat down next to her mother and Reiko wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "Well, this is hard for me to talk about."

"Reina, you know that you can talk to me about anything," Reiko said comfortingly. She then sent a cheeky smile at Takuma and then to Reina, "Have you lost your virginity to little Takuma-kun over there?"

Everyone stared at the outspoken woman. Reina's cheeks had reddened and Takuma covered his face in embarrassment. Kagami cleared her throat, "No, Obasama, Reina-sama is still pure."

"Oh, well," Reiko said as she flicked her long black hair out of the way, "But seriously, tell me what is going on?"

Reina sighed and gazed at her mother for a moment, "This is hard for me to talk about and it something you told Kagami that she couldn't tell me."

Reiko's eyes widened and she stiffened, her playful expression turned grave, "Kagami, what have you told her."

"I have told her nothing, Obasama," Kagami replied.

"Please, mother, tell me," Reina begged, "I'm going mad. My dreams are become more and more vivid. Please."

Reiko shook her head, "There's nothing to tell you."

"Please, you're lying! Tell me the truth," Reina moved to the floor so that she was on her knees in a begging position, "Please alleviate my fears."

"There is nothing to fear," Reiko replied, "It's all in your head."

Reiko stood up abruptly, "I'm going for a bath; feel free to have my tea when Senna brings it."

With that, she walked out, slamming the door behind her. Reina buried her face in her hands and began to sob. Takuma stood up from where he was sitting and knelt next to her, enveloping her in his arms. Reina cried bitterly into his chest.

"There's still time, Reina-sama," Kagami said, "Just keep asking her."

Reina continued to sob and didn't stop for a long time.

Please Review!