Resumption and subsequent destruction — a cycle of the same events.
You open your eyes, and around you it's like déjà vu. Familiar faces, familiar sounds, familiar shadows. Everything repeats, as if you've already seen this.
That's exactly right. 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 gaze from me.
Wait, looking at me?
Didn't waste a second.
"Why are you staring at me so intently?" I asked.
She abruptly looked away, as if hoping I hadn't noticed. But after I became a vampire, all human senses became sharp, even reaction to a gaze.
I noticed.
"I thought you wouldn't notice. Surprised you reacted so quickly. You're... not human?" she asked.
Was this a question? Or an admission?
A strange feeling pierced my body, a chill. Why? This is an ordinary question. Just a question, but I felt... differently.
"Everything alright?" the firm voice of the girl opposite, Tiamut. "Your hands are trembling."
"Sorry. Don't know what came over me. Chilly, probably, the windows are open."
She didn't answer, only 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 certain 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?" immediately a question in response.
Strange, as if she herself isn't sure who we're talking about. But still...
"The participants."
"Don't know, everyone's busy with their own affairs. Yahweh and Hov are discussing those inscriptions whose translation we need to find. Kamiki started talking with one of the servants."
"With a servant?" a glance to the side, Morgana and Kamiki nearby, indeed discussing something.
What does he want from her?
"Why don't you go to Enua and talk?"
Wait... she said "Enua"? I didn't mishear? Why? Has anyone cared about his status before? Why do goosebumps run across my skin after her words?
No.
I'm just surprised. She doesn't feel disgust or hatred, only... compassion.
I remembered our conversation with Enua when we divided into groups. He said he knew her. If so, why didn't she try to help when everyone accused him of murder?
No point in blaming, here everyone's for themselves. Perhaps she was afraid of becoming a suspect. Or I've imagined too much.
Need to go to Enua. If not for her, I would have forgotten about him. Idiot, tried to help on my own and forgot about him.
I stood. Went to the bedroom.
Yahweh and Hov by the window looked after me. Tiamut smiled slightly and finished her wine.
In a couple of minutes — at the door.
A face without emotions, soul seemingly gone. A faceless body.
My fault, couldn't protect, couldn't prove an alibi. Couldn't even prove to myself. I simply wanted to believe in his innocence, wanted to hope.
One thought in my head, the second night. Mass murder in the library. Was it him? Wanted to ask, but does he himself know the truth?
He's like a child, needs help. Someone nearby who'll give a hand. He didn't have such a person. It's hard for people to make decisions alone, sometimes you need advice from someone close, we're social creatures, we need support.
"If you had no one, I'm ready to become that person. Let's stop the enemy together!"
He raised his gaze. A spark, almost imperceptible, but there.
"Why are you so desperately trying to help? I don't understand..."
"If you're true to your ideals and truly consider yourself who you want to be... I am justice itself," I pronounced with confidence.
The situation in the living room hadn't changed. Tiamut was drinking wine. Yahweh and Hov were talking. Kamiki stood by the window, looking at 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 understand."
"Idiot," Hov said, furrowing his brows. "He doesn't consider any of us a criminal. He thinks it's the witch."
"How would we know? Neither he nor Enua could prove an alibi. We cornered him," Yahweh replied.
"Yes, but the same can be said about the witch. Why are we certain she's not playing the role of a maniac? The rules are strange, survive until the seventh day. Why was the witch certain we'd start killing each other?"
"Everything's gotten complicated, what do you suggest? Drop the accusations from Enua and start accusing the witch?" Yahweh asked, puzzled.
"Enua will remain a suspect, but we won't exclude the witch either. If tomorrow he doesn't prove his innocence, we'll throw him out," came Hov's harsh answer.
"Alright, I'm on your side. Let's see what happens."
In a few minutes Aragi returned not alone, with Enua. All gazes on Enua, who until now had been hiding. Tiamut smiled slightly.
"Excellent. Everyone together, allow me to say," Aragi began. "We'll go to the library to find out the translation, but together with Enua. If you refuse, I refuse too."
Morgana interrupted the dialogue.
"Cheryl and I will refuse to help too."
She looked at Aragi, he at her. Understanding without words.
"I agree," Tiamut was first to support.
The others agreed too.
"Good, since we've agreed, let's go up to the second floor," Kamiki said, still by the window.
This time I don't intend to lose to you, witch of Ryujima Island!