Renewal and subsequent destruction — a cycle of the same events.
You open your eyes, and everything around feels like déjà vu. Familiar faces, familiar sounds, familiar shadows. Everything repeats, as if you've already seen it.
And you have. I opened my eyes.
Around me, faces divided into groups. Everyone busy with their conversations, arguments, silence. And only one girl sat opposite, not taking her eyes off me.
Wait, staring at me?
I didn't waste a second.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked.
She sharply looked away, as if hoping I hadn't noticed. But after becoming a vampire, all human senses sharpened, even reaction to a gaze.
I noticed.
"I thought you wouldn't notice. Surprised you reacted so fast. You're... not human?" she asked.
Was that a question? Or a statement?
A strange feeling pierced my body, a chill. Why? It's an ordinary question. Just a question, but I felt... differently.
"Everything okay?" the firm voice of the girl opposite, Tiamut. "Your hands are shaking."
"Sorry. Don't know what came over me. Chilly, probably, windows open."
She didn't reply, just shook her head. Speech firm, confident, without hesitation. A confident woman who knows what she wants.
But why such a question? What did she mean?
I'm sure none of them know what I've become. Probably she was just surprised by my attention.
"So what are they talking about?"
"Who's they?" immediate counter-question.
Strange, as if she's not sure who I mean. But still...
"The participants."
"Don't know, everyone's busy with their own things. Yahweh and Hov are discussing those inscriptions we need to translate. Kamiki started talking to one of the servants."
"With a servant?" glance aside, Morgana with Kamiki nearby, really discussing something.
What does he want from her?
"Why don't you go to Enua and talk?"
Wait... she said "Enua"? Did I hear right? Why? Did anyone care about his status before? Why do chills run down my skin after her words?
No.
I'm just surprised. She feels no disgust or hatred, only... compassion.
I remembered our conversation with Enua when we split into groups. He said he knew her.
If so, why didn't she try to help when everyone accused him of murder?
No point blaming, here everyone is for themselves. Maybe she was afraid of becoming a suspect. Or I'm overthinking.
Need to go to Enua. If not for her, I'd have forgotten about him. Idiot, tried to help with my own strength and forgot about him.
Stood up. Went to the bedroom.
Yahweh and Hov by the window looked after me. Tiamut smiled slightly and finished her wine.
A couple minutes later — at the door.
Face without emotion, soul as if gone. Faceless body.
My fault, couldn't protect, couldn't prove alibi. Couldn't even prove to myself. I just wanted to believe in his innocence, wanted to hope.
One thought in my head: second night. Mass murder in the library. Was it him? Wanted to ask, but does he know the truth himself?
He's like a child, needs help. Someone nearby to offer a hand. He had no such person. People struggle with decisions alone, sometimes need advice from someone close. We're social creatures, need support.
"If you had no one, I'm ready to be that person. Let's stop the enemy together!"
He raised his gaze. A spark, almost invisible, but there.
"Why are you trying so desperately to help? I don't understand..."
"If you're true to your ideals and really consider yourself who you want to be... I am justice itself," I said confidently.
The situation in the living room unchanged. Tiamut drinking wine. Yahweh with Hov talking. Kamiki at the window, watching the rain.
"So you want to help him?" Yahweh asked.
"Yes. I feel the truth is on his side."
"What truth? What are you talking about? I don't get it."
"Idiot," Hov said, frowning. "He doesn't think any of us is the criminal. Thinks it's the witch."
"How do we know? Neither he nor Enua proved an alibi. We cornered him," Yahweh replied.
"Yes, but the same can be said about the witch. Why are we sure she's not playing the maniac? The rules are strange, survive until the seventh day. Why was the witch sure we'd start killing each other?"
"It's complicated, what do you suggest? Drop accusations on Enua and start accusing the witch?" Yahweh asked puzzled.
"Enua stays suspect, but we don't rule out the witch. If tomorrow he doesn't prove innocence, we throw him out," Hov's harsh reply followed.
"Fine, I'm on your side. Let's see what happens."
A few minutes later, Aragi returned not alone, with Enua. All eyes on Enua, who had been hiding before. Tiamut smiled slightly.
"Great. Everyone together; allow me to say," Aragi began. "We'll go to the library to find the translation, but with Enua. If you refuse, I refuse too."
Dialogue interrupted by Morgana.
"Cheryl and I will refuse to help too."
She looked at Aragi, he at her. Understanding without words.
"I agree," Tiamut supported first.
Others agreed too.
"Good, since we agree, let's go up to the second floor," Kamiki said, still at the window.
This time, I won't lose to you, witch of Ryujima island!