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Chapter Text

The door closed behind the three siblings, a tense silence between them. He looked between his two sisters, it had been years since he had last seen them. Before he was sent away. 

"What are you doing here Nikolai," Kira asked. He shrugged, "It was time I came home, no?" Riri moved to stand by Kira, a silent comfort for them both. The two just stared at him, not answering. 

Nikolai sighed, "YA skuchal po vam, rebyata." Riri's features softened and she looked to her sister. Kira looked back at her before turning back to their brother, "My tozhe skuchali po tebe." He smiled, something softer than what the girls were used to. He sat down on the couch, "Tell me everything I've missed." 

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The gambling hall was buzzing with excitement, bets already going on who the new boy was. 

Mary sat next to Yumeko who was staring at the council ledge. "You okay," she asked, nudging the girl. "Have you seen Riri today," Yumeko asked, not answering Mary's question. "Not since that new kid showed up," Mary said. "Same with Kira," the Japanese girl muttered, glancing towards the door. 

Gasps were heard from around the room. Students pointed to the leaderboard, watching as a new name appeared in the top ten at number three, Nikolai Timurov. Dori was now at number four, Suki number five, and Chad at number six. 

The doors opened, drawing everyone's attention. The council walked in, heads high like always. But someone new had joined them. He was tall, even by Russian standards. He had curly black hair, the same as Kira and Riri. His skin was a little darker, a shade or so. And his eyes were the color of molten gold. He stood on Kira's left side while Riri was on her right. There was no denying who he was.

Nikolai Timurov, younger brother of Kira and twin of Riri. 

They scattered throughout the room, each watching the students gamble with each other. The Timurov's however, walked to Mary and Yumeko. Riri moved to Mary's side, pressing their shoulders together slightly. Kira remained standing in front of them, Nikolai by her side. 

"Mary," Kira said, nodding at the girl. She glanced at Yumeko before focusing back on her sister's girlfriend. "We would like you both to meet someone. This is our brother, Nikolai." Mary held out her hand, "Nice to meet you." The boy smiled as he spoke, accent thick, "Pleasure is mine. Riri wouldn't shut up about you, which is a feat considering she doesn't speak much." Mary laughed, "Trust me I know. I used to be on the council." Nikolai tilted his head, "Why aren't you anymore? From what I've heard, you're an amazing gambler." 

Mary pointed to Yumeko, "She knocked me out by beating me in a high stakes game of skirmish." Nikolai turned to Yumeko, "Ah so you must be the famous Yumeko." The girl smiled, gently placing her hand in his, "I would say it's nice to finally meet you, but I didn't know you existed." Nikolai laughed, "Most people don't. I wasn't around when these two were sent here. I was still in Russia with my mother until she died. Even after I wasn't around, I was sent away I guess you could say." 

"Which sister are you fully related to," Yumeko asked. Kira glared at her silently, but the girl didn't look at her. The boy noticed the tension but didn't speak about it. "I'm Riri's twin brother," he said, "I was born first." Riri lightly shoved him. "You're definitely not as cold as they are," Yumeko said, "No offense Riri." The masked girl shrugged, knowing it was true. 

Nikolai sighed, "Yes I have noticed. I didn't grow up around our father as much, but I unfortunately met some of the same fates as my sisters. Though not as harshly, I suspect that's due to me being his son. Sexist bastard." 

He looked to Kira, "Eto ona skryla ot tebya svoy sekret?" Kira nodded, "Da, i, vozmozhno, ya takzhe ubil yeye druga." He whistled lowly, "Damn and I thought I was the crazy one." Riri spoke then, "Ty sumasshedshiy." Mary's cheeks flushed at the sound of Riri speaking Russian. 

Now is not the time. 

Kira looked around, noticing most of the students were staring at them. "Let's move this somewhere more private," she said, motioning them to the stairs. They all followed silently, entering the lounge that overlooked the gambling hall. 

Nikolai sat down in one of the chairs facing the center of the room. His legs were spread as his elbows rested on the armrests, fingers messing with the rings on his fingers. Riri mirrored his actions, though kept her legs together, Mary sat down across her lap, legs dangling off the edge of the chair.  "Ty vyglyadish' kak shlyukha," Riri said to her brother, earning her a middle finger. 

Kira rested against her desk. She looked at Yumeko and spoke to her for the first time in days, "Sit." Yumeko kept eye contact as she did what she was told, sitting on the only open seat which was the couch. "Why are we here," she asked, keeping her voice neutral. Kira looked away from her, "Because despite certain things, you two are now a part of our family. You know our darkest secret, what we are." 

She looked at her siblings. She had talked to them about what she was about to say, and they agreed with her. They nodded silently, giving her their support. She took a deep breath. 

"Our father is going to try to kill you."

Chapter Text

Kira laid on her bed that night. She stared at her ceiling, music played quietly in the headphones that rested on her head. She sang along quietly, 

"Why does it feel right every time I let you in? Why does it feel like I can tell you anything? All the secrets that keep me in chains." 

She turned her head, looking at her nightstand. A picture of her and Yumeko from the night that she met her at the garden stared back at her. She had a true smile on her face as she looked at the other girl. She reached out, fingers grazing Yumeko's features. 

Why are you pushing her away? 

It's to protect her. 

Push her too far and she'll leave. 

She can't. We took that choice from her. 

She closed her eyes, turning onto her back. She hated herself for everything that hurt Yumeko. She hated herself for not feeling guilty about it more. She raised her hands to come up to her face. She remembered the feeling of them being covered in blood. In his blood. 

She heard a faint knock on her door through her headphones. She slipped them off as she rose out of bed. She walked quietly to the door and opened it. She held it open more to allow Yumeko to enter. She didn't say anything, knowing that nothing she said could fix whatever they were. 

She climbed back into bed, turning onto her side and patting the spot next to her. Yumeko slipped in silently, back to Kira as she laid down. Kira hesitantly reached out, placing an arm around Yumeko's waist. The other girl pulled her closer. She moved until her front was flushed with Yumeko's back. She rubbed her thumb back and forth on the sliver of skin that was exposed. 

"I want to hate you," Yumeko whispered. Kira held her tighter. She felt Yumeko's body start to shake, telling her that the girl was crying. "I want to hate you so much," she repeated, her hand placing itself over Kira's and threading their fingers together, "I want to hate you for lying to me, for killing Ryan, for keeping secrets. But I can't because I did the same to you. I lied and kept secrets and I can't hate you for something I do too."

"But what I really hate," Yumeko said, "The one thing I do hate, is that you know exactly what I need and never question it. And I hate that I can't be that for you because you won't let me." Kira buried her face in her neck, letting out a shaky breath. 

I can't allow you to until he's gone. But I can try until then. 

"I hate that I love you," Yumeko said, her body no longer shaking. "But I love you more than I can hate anything about you." She raised their joint hands, placing them over her heart. 

She looked at her sleeping form, feeling complete and broken all at once. Kira waited until she knew Yumeko was asleep before she spoke the two words that she couldn't tell her while she was awake. 

"I'm sorry." 

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Riri sat against the headboard, Mary's head resting in her lap. Her fingers threaded through her hair, a calming act given their current state of undress. 

"I can't believe you have a twin," Mary said, tracing random patterns on Riri's thigh. Riri groaned, "Can we not talk about him while we're naked?" Mary laughed, "Fine I'll let it go for now. But I did want to ask you something." Riri looked down at her, "What is it?" Mary looked away for a moment, "What are the scars on your face and hands from?" 

Riri froze. Nobody had ever bothered to ask, but then again nobody had any reason to. She swallowed, "It's not a pretty story." Mary looked up at her, "Nothing you can say will change how I feel about you. Remember what I said the first time I saw you without your mask? You're breathtakingly beautiful." Riri sighed and looked away. 

"It happened a little after Yumeko arrived," she said, "She hadn't gotten to Kira yet back then. I was sitting on the roof before the sun came up and I stayed there until the sun rose, but I didn't have my jewelry on so I didn't have protection." She looked down at Mary, "The sun started to burn my skin and I didn't care if I burnt up. I let myself burn until Kira dragged me back inside." 

Mary moved to sit up, straddling Riri's lap. She didn't say a word as she leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to the raised and discolored skin on Riri's jaw. She leaned back, looking at Riri with love filled eyes. She raised their hands, leaning into Riri's palm. 

"You're beautiful," she said, "Always will be." Riri rushed forward, pressing her lips to Mary's. Her arms wrapped around her waist, holding her close to her. She felt Mary's arms wrap around her neck, fingers pulling at her baby hairs. She pulled away, resting her forehead against Mary's. 

"I love you Mary Davis." 

"And I love you Riri Timurov." 

Chapter Text

Nikolai leaned against the wall, flipping a coin. He waited quietly, nobody was awake yet but he still stuck to the shadows. Finally the person he was waiting for walked out of their room.

"Hey Suki," he said, walking up to the blonde. Suki looked up, "What do you want Nikolai?" The boy pouted, "Don't be like that, we used to be close didn't we?" Suki turned to him, "Look, what we had was nice, great even, but the chances of that happening again are next to zero after what you did." He began to walk off, leaving Nikolai standing for a moment. 

"I got help," he called after the retreating blonde. Suki stopped and looked over his shoulder, "I know. And I know you've been in an insane asylum this whole time. Not even Kira or Riri know that." Nikolai tensed, "How did you know about that?" Suki walked up to him, poking him in the chest, "You're forgetting how I made it into the top ten. I know everything there is to know about anyone in this school. You included, Nikolai." 

The dark haired boy grabbed Suki's wrist, spinning them until they were pressed against the wall. He towered over Suki, at least six inches taller. He leaned down, inhaling the scent of Suki's blood. He laughed slightly, "Did you know you actually smell like Hennessey? I heard it's an acquired taste, much like you. I just have one question though and I'll let you go." Suki swallowed, trying and failing to not be affected by the boy's words, "What is it?" 

Nikolai smiled at him, "Does Yumeko and Mary's blood call to my sisters the way yours does to me?" 

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Yumeko sighed as she woke up. She felt arms wrapped around her and she allowed herself to not feel guilty about coming to her. She leaned into the girl's touch, feeling rested after days of not sleeping.

"Did you sleep well," Kira asked from behind her. She hummed, "Better than I have in days." Kira's fingers traced along her spine, feeling the shivers it sent throughout Yumeko's body. "That's good," she muttered. 

She turned, finally looking at the girl. She hadn't last night, she had kept her head down and just slipped into Kira's bed. Her eyes followed along the dark circles beneath her blue eyes, down the slope of her nose, and to the soft pink lips that she missed. She could see Kira's freckles that she normally covered up. Her dark hair was a mess, a lazy bun that had fallen out throughout the night. Yumeko hated how her heart clenched at Kira's beauty. 

"You certainly look better than you did last night," Kira said, reaching up and brushing Yumeko's hair out of her face. "Have you been taking care of yourself," she asked, worry flashing across her eyes. "Have you," Yumeko retorted, "You look like death." Kira smiled faintly, "That's because I've been hungover most days." 

"You've been drinking," Yumeko asked, sitting up and looking around Kira's room. She noticed a couple of bottles on the floor and one on her nightstand. She froze, noticing the picture the bottle was next to. "You kept it," she said, looking back to Kira. The other girl looked away, "I was happy in that photo." "Are you not happy anymore," Yumeko asked, laying back down. 

"How can I be when my father wants to kill the girl I love?" 

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"I could get used to this," Mary said, cuddling closer to Riri's cold body, "You're like a portable cooling pack." Riri poked her side, "It's not weird for you?" "Why would it be," Mary asked. "I'm as cold as a dead person," Riri said, "I don't have a heartbeat. I'm not a human." Mary sat up, covers falling from her body. 

"I have known you aren't human for a while now," she said, "And you have shown more human emotion than most humans I know." Riri felt her chest lurch, "You make me feel human." Mary smiled at her, "You may not be human but you're my person." She laid back down, pulling Riri into her chest, "I love you, and you not being human doesn't change that." Riri smiled, her chest lurching again.

Feeling human isn't bad. 

She closed her eyes, feeling Mary's heartbeat underneath her ear. She let the steady thrum lull her into a state of rest. She couldn't sleep, not truly. She could only fall into the state between awake and sleep. But with Mary, she felt more at peace than ever. 

"We should get ready for school," Mary said, running her fingers through Riri's hair. Riri nodded but didn't move. Mary giggled, "That means you have to get up." Riri groaned, lifting her body off the girl. She rolled off the bed, placing her feet on the floor. She looked back at the girl lounging on her bed, "Want some new clothes? You have plenty of uniforms here." Mary nodded, "Thank you baby." Riri smiled at her and stood. 

She walked to her dressers, grabbing a clean pair of underwear and a clean bra for Mary. She walked back to the bed, handing the garments to her girlfriend. She headed to her closet, grabbing a uniform for Mary and some pants for her, she was feeling more masculine today. She shrugged on a shirt before heading back to her desk. 

"Is your dad really going to try and kill me," Mary asked suddenly as they got dressed. Riri paused, her shirt remaining unbuttoned as she walked over to the girl. She cupped Mary's face in her hands, "I won't let him. If he tries to hurt you or do anything to you, I will kill him. I don't care if he's my father." Mary smiled at her, "You know it's hot when you're protective of me." Riri rolled her eyes, playfully pushing the girl, "Shut up and get dressed."

Chapter Text

"Why are you going so hard," Yumeko gasped, back hitting the floor. Kira stood over her, bo staff pointing at the girl. "You need to know how to defend yourself," Kira said, pulling the girl up. Yumeko groaned, "I know how to defend myself." Kira rolled her eyes, "Boxing doesn't count. Though boxing with Riri helps, you need a weapon to help you." 

"Do all of you have weapons," Yumeko asked. Kira nodded, "Yes, we were trained in our chosen weapons since we were kids. Though I don't know if Nikolai kept up his training wherever he was." "What are your weapons," the girl asked. "You know I use a bow," Kira said, placing the bo staff against the wall, "Other than that, I use a staff and knives." 

"Riri uses whatever she wants, she's trained in all weapons. Nik used a trident, I don't know why. And Mary is learning with a staff." 

"How does a staff kill a vampire," Yumeko asked. Kira smiled, "It doesn't unless you break it and pierce their heart. That is what you're going to try to do to me." Yumeko froze, "What?" Kira handed her a wooden staff, "Try to kill me." 

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Nikolai wandered the underground tunnels. His hands traced the walls, leaving streaks where the dust kicked up. He hummed, a tune his mother used to sing at night. 

His fingers brushed a loose brick, and he pushed it. The wall opened, revealing a deep underground garage with vehicles covered in tarps. He walked to the furthest vehicle from the door. He pulled the tarp off, smiling at the car underneath. 

He ran his hands over the hood, "Good to see you again. Now to see if Kira will let me drive you." 

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Yumeko had Kira pinned to the floor, staff pressed to her chest. Kira looked up at her, "Break it." Yumeko didn't move. Kira sighed, her hand gripping the staff and snapping it. She threw the piece she held and kicked her leg out, making Yumeko fall closer to her, the broken staff now pressing her sternum. 

Yumeko's face was close to hers, their noses brushing. Kira closed her eyes, breathing in the girl's scent. "You can pierce the skin here," she whispered, directing Yumeko's hand to the scar on her chest. "It'll be hard to kill most," she continued, "You won't be able to feel their heartbeat like you can feel mine." 

She put pressure on Yumeko's hands, the tip of the broken piece drawing blood. "With enough pressure," she said quietly, keeping eye contact with the girl, "You can pierce the sternum and hit the heart in one go." 

Yumeko stared down at her, lips parted and eyes blown. Kira shivered, "Don't look at me like that." "Like what," Yumeko whispered. "Like you want to kiss me," Kira said. "Maybe I do," the other girl said. Kira shook her head, "You don't want to kiss me." 

"Don't tell me what I don't want." 

She brushed their lips together in a soft kiss. Her hand threw the broken staff away from them. Her hands were placed beside Kira's head, bracing her weight. She felt Kira's hands on her waist, gripping like she was afraid she would disappear. 

Kira's tongue brushed across and Yumeko let her in. The kiss deepened. Kira sat up, Yumeko staying in her lap. Her hands went to her back, scratching lightly. Yumeko's hands went to Kira's hair, gripping the dark strands. Her hips began to move, grinding down into the firm muscles of Kira's stomach. 

Kira moved down to Yumeko's neck, nipping at the skin. "Shit," Yumeko moaned, "You feel good." Kira didn't answer, just continued kissing her skin. 

A throat cleared from the door. They broke apart. Kira looked up, Nikolai was leaning against the doorframe, a smirk on his face. 

"Chto ty zdes' delayesh'," Kira asked, her voice hard. "YA dumal, vy dvoye ssorites'," he said, ignoring her question. Kira didn't answer but she tensed. He was right, they were fighting, but now she didn't know. She looked at the girl in her lap, who was looking down at her, before looking back to her half brother. 

"What do you want," she asked again. He smiled, "I just had a request." Kira sighed, her head resting against Yumeko's chest. The girl scratched at her scalp, calming her. "What is it," she asked. 

He pushed off the doorframe, standing up straight with his hands behind his back. His smile never left his face. 

"I want to bring back gambling on street racing."

Chapter Text

"Did you hear the council is bringing back street racing?"

"I heard it was because of Kira's brother." 

"Who do you have winning?" 

"Kira obviously, what kind of president would agree to something like that and not win?" 

"But does she even know how to race?" 

Kira placed her head in her hands, a pounding had overtaken her ability to think. She heard what the students were saying, they were excited to have something new to gamble on. But they also doubted her, and she couldn't have that. 

A glass was placed in front of her, bringing her out of her thoughts. She looked up, Yumeko stood over her, watching her with a smile. She looked back down at the glass, noticing it was filled with a thick red liquid. Yumeko's blood. 

She swallowed heavily, looking back up. The other girl nodded, "Drink, you need it." Kira nodded gratefully, bringing the glass to her mouth and gulping it down. She felt her mind clear, the pounding receding. Her senses were no longer overwhelmed. 

"Thank you," she whispered, placing the glass back down, "You didn't have to do that." Yumeko nodded, sitting across from her, "Yes I did. You needed to drink, you've gone too long without." "Well I haven't gone too long without a drink," Kira attempted to joke. Yumeko glared at her, making her shut up. 

Kira sighed and stood, making her way around her desk. She leaned against the desk in front of Yumeko. She looked down at the girl, "I'm sorry." Yumeko looked at her, "For what?" Kira smiled sadly, "Everything. Lying, cheating.. And Ryan." Yumeko looked away at the mention of her friend. 

Kira cupped her face, "Please look at me." Yumeko looked up at her, tears glistening in her eyes. Kira felt her heart break at the sight. You caused this, remember that. She shook her head, clearing the thoughts away. Right now was about Yumeko. 

"I'm sorry," she repeated, "Trust me please?" "How can I forgive you," she asked, tears running down her face. She cupped her face, looking at her with gentle eyes, "You don't have to. Just trust that I will keep you safe. No matter what. And I always will." 

Yumeko jumped at her, wrapping her arms around Kira's neck and burying her face into her shoulder. Sobs escaped her body as Kira held onto her tightly. "Why can't I hate you," she sobbed, her fist making contact with Kira's chest lightly. Kira ran a hand through her hair, "You know why." 

"Because you took away my choice!" 

"I know." 

"I want to hate you…" 

"I know.." 

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Mary traced the winged patterns on Riri's back, making the girl shiver. "Are you going to participate in the street races," she asked, kissing her skin. "I probably will have to," Riri said, "It's customary for the council to start the new gambles." "What're you going to drive," she continued, placing more kisses onto her shoulders. Riri laughed, turning to face her. She smiled at her, "That my love, is a surprise." 

Mary leaned into her, her head resting on Riri's naked shoulder. She reached up, messing with one of Riri's necklaces. "Can I tell you something," she asked quietly. Riri nodded, "Of course. What is it?" "I'm scared," she admitted, "Ever since you told us your father would try to kill us, I've been terrified. I know I told you this before but I think I need to say it again." 

Riri held her close, her chest feeling tight. "I won't let him get to you," she said, "I promise." Mary sat up, pushing Riri away and wrapping her arms around her knees, "You can't promise that." Riri sat up, "Yes I can. He won't lay a hand on you." Mary stood and Riri tried not to get distracted by her body. 

"You can't promise me this," she said, "You can't promise me that he won't get to me. You don't know what he's capable of, even if you're his daughter." "I can try," Riri said weakly, "Even if it kills me, I can try." Mary looked at her, "Did you just hear yourself? You can't die." "Everyone will be fine," Riri said, standing with her. 

"I won't be." 

Riri looked like she had been slapped. "W-what," she stammered. Mary looked at her, unshed tears in her eyes. "I won't be fine," she repeated. She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling vulnerable. She grabbed her clothes, rushing to put them on as Riri stood there. 

She walked to the door, looking back at Riri who was staring at the ground. "I would never be fine if you died," she said, "We're tied together. And even if we weren't, I could never live if you were dead." She walked out, closing the door gently behind her, tears finally falling as she heard the sobs leave the older girl.

Chapter Text

Thunder rumbled as the council met early on the day of the race. 

"The first race is tonight," Nikolai said, "And all of us are going to participate in this one." The rest of the council looked excited, except for Runa as she was the only one who couldn't take part in any of the gambles. 

Kira looked at her brother, "And I'm guessing you know who is racing against who?" Nikolai nodded, a smile stretched wide across his face, "Well of course I do dear sister." He looked around at the excited faces of those around him, "Riri will be going against Dori. Chad will go against Suki, and I will be going against Kira." The room was quiet. Nikolai just smiled as he watched their faces. 

Kira's jaw was tense as she stared at her brother. You have got to be kidding me. "What are the stakes," she asked. Nikolai shrugged, "Whatever we want them to be, but my stakes for us don't involve money or council positions." "Well what do you want them to be," she asked. Nikolai leaned back, a lazy smile on his face, "Mne nuzhna pomoshch' v poiskakh moyey materi."

Riri looked up, her eyes blazing. "Ona mertva." Nikolai leveled a look at her, "Otkuda ty znayesh'? Potomu chto otets tebe skazal? My ne mozhem doveryat' yego slovam, i ty eto znayesh'." The council looked confused between the two twins. 

"Do you know what they're saying," Chad asked Dori. The one eyed girl shook her head, "No why would I? I don't speak russian." He looked at Suki, knowing the other boy had a connection to Nikolai, "Do you?" The blonde shook his head, "No I don't." 

"Dostatochno," Kira yelled, stopping her siblings from fighting. She looked at Riri, "You need to calm down before tonight." She looked at Nikolai, "And as for you, I will accept your conditions, but if I win, you give me the key." Nikolai narrowed his eyes, "The key? Fine, I accept." 

And as if from a movie, thunder rumbled and lightning flashed as if to seal the deal between siblings, while the council had no idea what was just agreed upon.

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Mary looked like she hadn't slept since she left Riri's room a week ago, and truthfully she hadn't. She stumbled through the days, running on autopilot. She gambled her way to number thirteen. And now, she was sitting and watching Yumeko finally be able to gamble, she was close to being out of housepet status. 

"Are you going to the races tonight," a voice asked from behind her. She looked back, Nikolai Timurov was standing behind her. He was smiling softly, his hands clasped behind his back, much like his twin sister did. She banished the thought away. 

"I plan on it," she answered, turning back to watch Yumeko beat someone else in poker. Nikolai sat down beside her, watching as well. "She truly is amazing at the game," he said, "I bet you both could make into the top ten and be a part of the council." Mary side eyed him, "I highly doubt it. We're many high stakes games from even being close." "You are number thirteen are you not," he asked, "You're already close. And as for her, she could easily win a number of games if she played her cards right." Mary shook her head, "She doesn't cheat. She never has." 

Nikolai shook his head, " She doesn't have to." "What do you mean," she asked, turning her attention to the boy. He smiled and she tried to ignore the flutter in chest at how similar it was to Riri's. 

Damn genetics. 

"She races," he said, "Against a council member. Not a high ranking one of course, maybe Diego." "What's in it for you," Mary asked suspiciously. Nikolai shrugged, "Nothing much, just watching Kira sweat as her zov krovi puts her life in danger. Of course she won't actually be in danger." 

"What's your plan," Mary asked. "Get her to agree to the race," he said, "And I will worry about the rest." "How do I know I can trust you," she questioned. He shrugged, "You don't. You just have to trust that I can get you into the top ten before the end of term. Do we have a deal? I help you two and you help me when I need it." 

Mary looked at Yumeko for a second, letting his words sink in. She looked back at him, noticing his outstretched hand. She took it, "You have a deal." His smile was deadly as he leaned in close. 

"Didn't your parents ever warn you not to make deals with the devil?"

Chapter Text

Kira looked at the stands, watching as the students awed at the cars they drove. She hated to admit it, but Nikolai was right in that this was a good way to gamble. Especially when she saw the way Yumeko's eyes lingered on her and her car. She smiled to herself, she knew it was a nice car, that's why she chose it. She looked at it herself, proud of the work she did on it.

A dark blue 2000 Honda S2000 with light blue LEDs lighting up the undercarriage and a twin turbo engine. Black spade designs decorated the side and an intricate looking 'K' was on her door. 

She looked at Riri's car, she had had her reservations about the car but she had to admit it was nice after Riri cleaned it up and added her personal touch. It was a nice sleek black 1994 Toyota Supra JZA80 with scattered red hearts around it. She knew that the little detail was for Mary. 

"Are you ready to lose," a voice behind her asked. She turned and faced her brother, glancing behind him at his car. It was obvious he had been working on it before he asked to bring back the street races. Especially since she knew how long it took to fix this specific car. 

A 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback that had a twin turbo V-8 engine swapped in. It was a deep blood red color with silver racing stripes on the hood. She wouldn't admit it to him, but it was a really good looking car. 

"I never lose," she said, looking back at him. He smiled, it would've been dangerous were it not for the fact that his canines were filed down. "Tonight you do," he said. She walked up to him, pressing a nail into his chest, "Careful with your words, seems like you're all bark and no bite. Since you know, you can't bite." She smiled at the anger flashing across his eyes. She turned away, walking to their sister and leaving him behind. 

"I hate our brother," she said, approaching Riri. The other girl looked up from her phone. Her eyes shined with amusement above her mask. "What did he do," she asked, her voice muffled by the fabric covering her mouth. Kira sighed, "Insinuated I would lose." Riri shrugged, "Anything could happen, but as long as he didn't sabotage you, you should win." "And how do you know that," Kira asked. Riri smiled beneath her mask, "Because I installed something to ensure you win." 

Kira looked at her, "Don't you want to know if your mom is alive?" Riri looked away, "I know she isn't." 

"How do you know that?"

"Because I'm the reason she died." 

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Riri sat quietly in the driver's seat. She didn't say a word after Kira had walked away. She looked to her left, watching Dori in her car. It was pretty old, but she could tell it was well loved. A 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo that used to belong to Dori's dad. He apparently sent it to her when she mentioned the racing. 

A tap on her hood startled her out of her thoughts. She looked forward, catching Wendy's eye as she motioned with her hand. She nodded, signaling she was ready. Wendy then looked at Dori and made the same motion and was met with a nod. 

"Ladies and gentleman," Wendy called out, her voice carrying out the stands, "Owners and house pets. The first race is about to begin!" The crowd cheered and Riri had to admit that Wendy had a certain charm that most people didn't even when she was human. There was a reason she was Riri's only house pet and voice on the intercom. 

"Ready Vice Pres," she called. Riri stuck her hand out of the window and raised her thumb up. The crowd cheered and she felt herself smile. She let the cheers wash over her and tuned everything else out as she focused on the quarter-mile stretch in front of her. 

"Ready Dori?" 

"Let's do this!" 

"On your mark.. Get ready.. Set.. GO!" 

Riri's foot pressed on the gas lightly just so she wouldn't skid and then slammed her foot on it. She vaguely heard Dori cursing as her car didn't move for a second as her tires screeched on the asphalt. She risked a glance back, watching as Dori was catching up. 

She smirked, shifting gears as Dori straggled behind her. She reached the halfway point, sharply turning her wheel to the left, drifting to turn back around. She sailed past Dori on her way back to the finish line, flipping her off as she went. She laughed, the sound escaping her. She had to admit, she was having fun. 

She slowed down as she passed the finish line, Wendy raising her hand to signal that Riri won. She turned around again, parking and cutting the engine. She climbed out of the car as Dori passed by. 

"Gotta admit," the one-eyed girl said, "That was pretty fun even if I did lose. I'll have those spiked blood vials for you soon." Riri nodded, "Thank you Dori. You're right, this was fun." The other girl nodded and drove off. 

A tap on her shoulder drew her attention and she turned. Mary stood quietly, her arms behind her back. She didn't say anything, waiting for the girl to speak. 

"You looked good out there," Mary finally said. Riri tilted her head, still not speaking. "The car looked good," she continued, "Though you might want to put on some new tires, these ones are getting dangerously close to being slippery." She caught the look Riri gave her, "My dad is a mechanic and I help him out in the shop whenever I go home." Riri nodded, "Maybe you could help me then." Mary's eyes widened, not expecting an answer.

She cleared her throat and nodded, "That would be nice." Riri smiled gently, her eyes crinkling to show it. She held out her hand letting Mary take it. She looked down at their joined hands, fingers intertwined. "How about we watch the rest of the races before we start," she asked. Mary smiled, "I'd like that." Riri let herself be dragged to the stands with a smile.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Soon enough it was time for Kira and Nikolai to race each other. Chad and Suki's race was pretty uneventful though surprisingly, Suki won. He ranted about engines and transmissions afterwards, much to the disbelief of everyone else. "I used to work on cars," he had said, reminding everyone of his past as 'Alpha Sean'. 

Kira looked up at the crowd, seeking out one girl. Yumeko's dark eyes clashed with her blue ones. She lifted her hand in a slight wave. Her heart hurt when Yumeko looked away. 

"Trouble in paradise," Nikolai asked, leaning on the roof of his car. Kira glared at him, "None of your business." The boy grinned, "Prepare to give me what I want, starshaya sestra." Kira plastered a fake smile on her face, "Ty pozhaleyesh', chto brosil mne vyzov, mladshiy brat." They stared at each other until Wendy cleared her throat. 

"Are you two ready," she asked. Kira nodded, slipping into the driver seat. "Hey," Nikolai called out from his car. Kira looked at him, "What?" Her brother smiled gently, "I'm rooting for you." She frowned. Wasn't he gunning to win? She shook her head, she didn't have time to deal with it. 

Wendy stood in between the cars, headlights making her skin look golden. The sun had set long ago. It was the perfect time for the two siblings to go against each other. 

She pointed to Kira, who nodded at her, her fingers gripping the wheel. Wendy pointed to Nikolai, who shot her a thumbs up. The crowd was quiet, aching to see who won; the undefeated president or her unpredictable brother. 

Wendy didn't count them off this time, just remained quiet for a few moments before she yelled, "GO!" 

The two siblings rushed forward at the same time, each one pulling ahead for a few moments before the other overtook them. It seemed like a tight race until they reached the halfway mark, where they had to turn around and drive back to the finish. 

Nikolai turned first, but went too wide and ended up in the grass. Kira smirked, pressing her foot on the break and downshifting as she pulled her wheel to the right, drifting past the cone. She pressed on the gas, shifting up gears as she raced to the finish. She had passed the finish line before Nikolai even left the grass. 

She grinned as she parked her car and turned it off. Her blood was rushing to her ears and her heart raced. She took a deep breath, her nose catching a specific scent. Whiskey and cherries, with a hint of honey. Yumeko, and the girl was aroused. 

She stumbled out of the car, bracing herself against the car. She took deep breaths, wishing she had taken a drink of her stash of blood before this. She closed her eyes as the smell got closer. Another scent entered her nose, that specific type of brandy mixed with white chocolate. She smiled to herself. Suki. 

"Are you alright," he asked from beside her. She looked up slightly, taking in his worried face. She moved toward him, falling forward slightly, making him wrap his arm around her to steady her. "It's overwhelming," she muttered into his shirt. Suki glanced around, catching Yumeko's approaching figure. "Yumeko," he asked. Kira nodded, "Yes. I can't be around her right now. It's too much and I'm not in control. Get me out of here." The blonde boy nodded, leading her through the crowd and passed her brother and sister, who watched with worried eyes and followed silently. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yumeko frowned when she saw Suki leading Kira away and when Nikolai and Riri walked after them. She was about to follow when a hand on her arm stopped her. She looked up and saw an older man with dark eyes and graying hair. 

"Hello," she said, pulling her arm away, "Can I help you?" The man nodded, "Yes I'm looking for someone. Well two people." Yumeko nodded, feeling uneasy, "Well I would be delighted to help you Mister.." The man smiled, "Adams. Gabriel Adams." 

"Are you okay," Mary asked, walking up to the two. The man looked startled for a second before his face settled back into a smile. Yumeko nodded, "Yes I'm okay. Just helping Mister Adams here look for Kira." Gabriel shook his head, "No I'm not looking for Kira." "Then who are you looking for," Mary asked. 

Gabriel's smile turned dangerous, his hand reaching into his jacket and pulling out a stun stick. He tased the two before they had time to react. He reached down, throwing each girl over one of his shoulders and walking to a black SUV that was hidden in the trees. 

He laid them down in the back, zip tying their hands and feet together before slipping into the driver's seat. He pulled out his phone, dialing one of the two numbers on it. 

" Hello?"

Gabriel smirked, "Mr. Timurov. I have the package." 

"Good. Bring it to me. We'll see how long it takes for them to realize their precious zov krovis are missing." 

The call ended. Gabriel looked at the two girls through the rearview mirror, "Let's hope they find you before it's too late." 

He looked back at his phone, his screen lighting up with the background of his son. 

"I'm sorry Michael."

Chapter Text

Kira breathed heavily, taking in deep breaths the further they got away from the tracks. She felt uneasy for some reason, like there was a thick haze in the air. There was also the faint scent of smoke and heavy scotch. It smelled familiar but she couldn't place it. 

Suki led her to her office and gently set her down in her chair. He walked to her cabinet and poured her a drink. He handed it to her, "Is that better?" She took a sip and sighed, "Yeah it's perfect. Thank you." He nodded. She studied him for a moment. He was much quieter than he appeared to be online and in front of people. 

"It's all a performance isn't it," she asked. He looked at her, "What is?" She motioned to him, waving her hand up and down, "You. Alpha Sean and Suki, they're both performances aren't they?" He sighed, "Yes and no. Suki is who I feel most comfortable as, but yes it is also a performance. At least the loud and obnoxious part is." 

She nodded, "I can understand that." The blonde smiled, "Thank you Kira. Truly." Kira smiled and pressed a small kiss to his forehead, "You're one of my three soft spots Suki." He nodded, knowing what she meant deep down. She allowed him to lean on her shoulder for a moment. 

"You know your siblings are outside the door right," he asked. She nodded, "I'm aware. They're just waiting." "For what," he asked. Kira shrugged, "For me to tell them to come in." He just nodded and moved to sit on the couch. Kira moved back to her chair, sipping her drink. "What's in this," she asked. Suki lifted up his hand, "Whiskey and some of my blood." "Thank you," she muttered, not quite used to the words. Suki didn't say anything, just smiled. 

"You know you'd be a great vampire," she said. "Is that an offer," Suki asked. Kira chuckled, "Maybe in time." "Well in time," he started, "I would accept." He stood walking to the door. He paused before he opened it and looked back at her, "You're a good person Kira." 

Riri and Nikolai walked in after Suki left. Riri reached up and removed her mask, the tips of her fangs hitting the dull light. 

"Are you alright," she asked, walking to her sister's side. Kira nodded, "Yeah I'm okay. Just Yumeko's smell overwhelmed me, for a lot of reasons." Riri nodded, "I can understand that, I could smell her from where I was standing off to the side. Personally, I don't understand how you can stomach the smell. It's overly sweet." Kira smiled, "Sweet to my sour." Riri gagged, "Gross, never say that again." 

Nikolai stood quietly, half concealed by the shadows. He watched as his sisters bonded with each other and tried to ignore the dull ache he felt in his chest. He knew coming here that his sisters had a bond that he couldn't possibly understand, but he never really saw it until now. 

Even when he was with his mother, he never felt the way he did now. Invisible and unimportant. He hated it and he didn't want to feel it. He swallowed heavily and blinked, feeling moisture in them. He raised his hand to his face, tears. He was crying for the first time since his mom died. 

His phone buzzed and he pulled it out of his pocket. He looked at the picture for a second before he pocketed his phone. He leaned his head against the wall before slightly slipping out of the room, his sisters' laughs echoing behind him. 

—---------------------------------------------------

Yumeko blinked her eyes open, her limbs feeling sluggish. Her hands were chained together, linked with her feet with a chain. She looked around and saw Mary passed out next to her. She tried to shift closer but found that the chains were hooked into the ground. 

She was a prisoner. 

"Mary," she whispered. The other girl hummed, still knocked out. "Mary," she tried again, this time louder. The girl still wouldn't wake up. Yumeko sighed before raising her voice, "Mary!" The girl bolted up. 

She looked around, "Where are we?" Yumeko shrugged, "No idea. Some kind of prison I'm guessing." She held up her chains, the links clinking together. Yumeko smiled sadly, "I don't know how long we've been here either. Do you think they'll notice we're gone?" Mary didn't have to ask to know who she was talking about. 

"They should," Mary said, "I mean they'll have to notice that our scents are fading or something." Yumeko nodded, "That's true. Hopefully they notice soon and find us, wherever we are." 

"I wouldn't count on it," a familiar voice said from the shadows. They jumped at the sound and looked through the bars. Two tall men appeared out of the shadows like ninjas. 

Nikolai Timurov looked down at them through the bars. His golden eyes were hard, devoid of emotion. His hair was neatly styled, pushed to one side with his hands set behind his back, hiding his fingers that were twisting his rings. 

The man next to him looked like him, though not as tall. He had thick gray hair and light eyes, the same color as Kira's. He wore a black business suit and stood proudly. His entire presence seemed to consume the room and demand their attention. There was no mistaking who this man was. Kira and Riri's father. 

Arkadi Timurov.

Chapter Text

Kira groaned as she woke up. Her head was pounding as her eyes adjusted to the light of her room. She glanced around, noticing the curtains were open. She groaned again, the pounding picking up. 

Why does Suki's blood have to be like actual alcohol?

She looked over at her nightstand, looking at the picture that rested there. She smiled before she noticed a folded piece of paper. She picked it up and opened it, everything fading to a dull noise as her vision tunneled. 

It was a picture of Yumeko, passed out and chained. Her hair was a mess, dirt was on her cheek along with some faint bruising. But what truly drew her attention was the little note written in red beneath it. 

"Slabosti ne dolzhno byt'."

Slabost. Weakness. 

She stood, the room spinning around her as she tried to wake up. This has to be a dream. She looked to her mirror, walking over to it. She looked at herself, trying to find something that wasn't there. She punched it, little pieces embedding themself in her knuckles. 

The pounding in her head got louder, drowning out the other noise in her head. She groaned, pressing her hands to her head, trying to force the pounding to stop. It wouldn't, if anything it got louder. 

Her door burst open and the pounding stopped. She looked up, looking at her sister who was frantic. She must've been in a hurry as she wasn't wearing her mask. She held a picture up, nearly identical to Kira's with the same message, only it had Mary in it. 

She looked up into her sister's eyes, they were wide with fear. Without her mask, nothing stood in the way of seeing the clear terror and pain her sister felt, and by extension, herself. The terror mixed with her own, drowning her. 

"He has her," Riri said, her hands grasping her sister's arms. The touch made Kira's brain kick into gear and she gasped. She walked forward, pushing Riri back as her hands still grasped her arms. Riri's back hit the door, forcing it closed. "He has her," Riri repeated.

"He has them both," Kira answered, "But I can't think with your emotions flooding mine." Riri nodded and Kira felt some of the terror easing back. She sighed, the feeling turning manageable. "He has her," Riri said, almost to herself as her head lulled back and hit the wooden door. Her hands dropped from Kira's arms. 

She looked sick as she kept repeating the same sentence. Kira looked closely at her sister. 

Her eyes were unfocused, pale skin flushed, and her eyes were bloodshot. Her mouth was slightly open, letting out short breaths. Her hands twitched, like they wanted to grab something or punch someone. 

Her shirt was loose, it wasn't her standard sleep wear so Kira knew it belonged to Mary based on the lingering scent of rose and chocolate. She could see the faint red lines of something beneath her shirt. Kira grabbed the hem, pulling slightly to see the scarring cut on her chest in the shape of the letter M, right over her heart. 

"You bonded her," Kira said, letting go of the fabric. Riri focused on her, "The night before I made her mad. He's gonna find the mark on her and carve it off." Her eyes welled up and she blinked. Kira felt the sadness and anger pouring out of her sister and didn't ask her to stop it, Riri needed her. She needed to know that she wasn't alone. 

She wrapped her arms around her sister, letting Riri fall into them and sob. "He's going to kill her," she sobbed, "I can feel it." Kira shook her head, "I won't let him. I won't let him hurt her. Either of them." For the first time, Riri seemed to register that Yumeko was gone too. 

She pulled back, eyes searching Kira's face. "He has them both," she asked quietly. Kira nodded and watched as her sister's eyes darkened. She felt the anger and sadness wash away, replaced by her sister's steely determination. She watched Riri's eyes harden. 

"You care about them both," Kira stated. "Yumeko never judged me without the mask," Riri answered, "And she matches you at every turn. She's family. And Mary, I'd do anything for her." "I'm guessing she has a certain letter on her chest," Kira asked, tapping at the spot on her sister. Riri nodded, "Mine." 

"We will get them back," Kira said, cupping her sister's face. "We will get them back," she repeated. Riri nodded, "This will only stay between the two of us. Nobody else, not even our brother." Kira's brow furrowed, "Why not him?" Riri looked at her.

"Because I know he's been in contact with Gabriel Adams."

Chapter Text

Blood poured from her mouth as she groaned. Another hit landed, just beneath her ribs. Her arms strained from the position they had put her in. Her arms were raised above her head, chained from the ceiling as her feet barely scraped the floor. 

Her head snapped to the side as she was punched. She raised her head and smiled, her mouth bloody, "You can do better than that." The man, Gabriel, snarled, "You need to learn your place." The woman laughed, "Oh please, Ray, you couldn't even learn math in school, what makes you think you know where 'my place' is?" 

She groaned again as he kicked her in the ribs. Despite his age, he was oddly flexible and in shape. She watched as he grabbed a thin piece of metal. She struggled against the chains, her dark hair falling in her face, "What are you doing with that?" Gabriel smiled at her, "Putting you in your place." 

She screamed as he pushed the metal into her stomach. She could only watch as he broke the metal short, ensuring she couldn't pull it out. She felt her body fall to the floor as the world went black. 

—------------------------------------------------------------------------

The cell door opened, making the two girls back away from it. Gabriel walked it, dragging an unconscious woman with him. He threw her onto the floor, chaining her to the floor a couple of feet from Yumeko. 

He spared them one look, "Have fun with her." 

Yumeko looked at Mary who was looking at the woman. She looked to be barely in her twenties, maybe early thirties. Her chest rose slowly. Blood pooled around her, soaking into the stone under her. 

Yumeko shifted until she was next to the woman. She brushed her hair out of her face, gasping lightly. She was covered in cuts and bruises but she could tell even under them, the woman was beautiful. Her fingers brushed along the woman's cheek stopping when her eyes started to flutter. 

The woman jerked up, gasping as her hands went to her stomach. She looked around, her gaze landing on Yumeko. The younger girl jerked backward as the woman reached toward her, "Keiko?" 

Yumeko froze, "How do you know that name?" The woman seemed lost in her own world, "I thought you were dead. They said Ray killed you and Jo." "I'm not my mother," Yumeko said and that seemed to register in the woman's mind. She sighed, "Apologies. It seems like I have been here for quite a while. Keiko was your mother? I wasn't aware she had children." 

"It's just me," Yumeko said softly. The woman looked at her, her gaze sharp as it roamed her body before shifting to look at Mary. "You two seem very young," she said, "What are your names?" "I'm Yumeko Jabami," Yumeko said, "This is my friend, Mary Davis." "Students from the school," the woman asked. They nodded. 

"My daughter goes there," the woman said, "I wonder how she is. I haven't seen her since she was a child." "Then how do you know she goes there," Mary asked, her voice hoarse. The woman looked at her, "Because her father wouldn't have it any other way." 

Yumeko cleared her throat, "If you don't mind, who is your daughter?" The woman smiled sadly, "Riri Timurov." 

—----------------------------------------------

Kira paced the room as Riri watched her from the couch. They were both dressed more masculine that day, with dress pants instead of skirts. Kira's shirt was pushed to her elbows and slightly wrinkled. Riri's was unbuttoned slightly and untucked from her pants. Her mask sat next to her. 

"Remind me how you know about Nik and Gabriel," Kira said, stopping in front of her sister. Riri raised a brow at her before sighing. "I looked at his phone during one of the council meetings. He had a message from him, even if it was something different, the fact that he's in contact with him is dangerous." Kira nodded, "I agree with that but it can't be just us two going after them. We'd die." 

Riri tilted her head in thought, "You don't want to hear this but if you didn't kill him, Ryan would help. He would've done anything to get Yumeko back." Kira glared at her, "Not the time to remind me of my mistake. Is there anyone else?" "Wendy," Riri said, "She would listen to me and she's friends with Yumeko." Kira nodded, "Okay good. We still need others." 

Riri brought her hands together, fingers twisting at her rings. She cleared her throat, "We could change the council." Kira shook her head, "No." Riri sighed, expecting this answer, "Think about it sestra. They listen to us, if we changed them they would have to listen to us as their sires. Dori is unhinged and would go willingly. Suki already adores you. Chad is Chad." 

Kira hated that she was right. "Fine," she said, "But we leave the choice up to them." "It needs to be their choice anyway," Riri pointed out. Kira waved her off, walking to the door and pulling it open. She looked down as Suki, Chad, Dori, and Runa fell into the room. She sighed and closed the door. 

"How much did you hear," Kira asked, moving to stand in front of Riri so she could put her mask on. She felt a tap on her thigh and sat down next to her sister. Chad stood, smoothing out his pants. "We heard plenty," Suki said. "I'll do it," Dori said, smiling like a maniac. 

Kira sighed, hand running through her hair, messing it up from its usual grace. "You don't have to," she started, "We're asking. If it weren't important we wouldn't be." "What's so special about Yumeko anyway," Runa asked. "It's not just Yumeko," Riri said, "It's Mary too." "Again," Runa repeated, "What's so special about the two?" 

"Apart from Mary being former council," Riri growled, "She's my bonded and Yumeko is Kira's." The others were shocked at the outburst from the usually stoic vice president, apart from Suki and Kira. The girl sighed, "I apologize, but this is important to us." 

Kira cleared her throat, "Would you please help us?" Kira never asked and she never said please. Suki nodded, "I will." "Sure why not," Dori chimed in, "Will I be killing people?" "Yes," Riri said simply. Dori nodded with a smile, "Yeah I'm in." They turned their gaze to the two left. They sighed, "I guess since they're doing it we can too." 

Kira turned to Riri, "Go find Wendy. Tell her to meet us on the garden roof." Her sister nodded, turning to one of the secret passages in the school and walked through it. She turned back to the rest, "I just have one more thing before. Do not speak a word of this to me brother."