Yuri started apologising profusely the minute she came into our room to see me sitting on my bed and staring at the wall. “Oh gosh, Cassie, I am so sorry that I didn’t wake you up this morning! It was just that I knew you hadn’t been to sleep the whole night and you didn’t even get in until late. And then you finally started snoring and you were just out; I tried to wake you up but it just didn’t work! Honestly, I am so sorry!” I simply shook my head. “It doesn’t matter, don’t worry about it. Actually, you did me a favour. I think…” She started to say something else, but I my head was so full with thoughts of tonight that I couldn’t even hear her.

“Aren’t you going to bed?” I blinked the dust out of my head rapidly and looked over at Yuri; she was already in her pyjamas and outside the moon was glowing high in the sky. “Hmm? Oh, um…I will at some point. I might go for a walk or something first, though.” My clock told me it was already midnight, and there would be no point in trying to snatch two hours of sleep. “Mind you don’t get caught, though. You know we aren’t supposed to be out after curfew.” I nodded to placate her and started rifling through my wardrobe for some clean clothes. “Were the teachers angry that I didn’t show at class today?” I asked as I struggled into a pair of jeans clumsily. “Um, I told them that you weren’t feeling well, and since it’s you and all they believed me straight away. But they said that if you were still off tomorrow then they would visit you at the Infirmary; that kinda sounded like a threat.” I nodded. “Okay, well, thanks Yuri. I won’t be off tomorrow, I swear. I won’t put you to any more trouble. Thanks for covering my back today.”

I got dressed and waited impatiently for another hour, tapping my feet as quietly as possible so as not to wake my gently snoring roommate. Then I knew that it was futile to try and make myself stay any longer, so I gave up and left. The night air was refreshingly cool, and the warming glow of the moonlight played over my face easily. Despite the inky colour of the sky, it was straightforward finding my way back to the garden from the day before. But it looked like a completely different place! The cover of night had transformed it into a place even more mystical than I remembered – so much so that I even doubted that it was the same place. But there was the stone bench we had shared our first kiss on; there was the crooked tree that had earlier provided shade; there was the small river, hidden by plants but near enough that sounds of running water trickled through melodically.

I trailed my hands over a nearby rosebush, swearing quietly when I caught my finger on a thorn. A few droplets of shining crimson blood trickled out, and I quickly wiped it away. Then I settled down onto the bench to wait – but it didn’t take long for me to be joined by someone. “I had hoped you would be early.” I looked around unsurely for the source of the whisper. “Akatsuki?” I called hopefully, but I knew that was not how he would announce his arrival. An unfamiliar inhuman chuckle bounced around the garden, heralding the entrance of another student from the Night Class.

“Hanabusa Aido,” I said in greeting as he stepped into view, glowing softly like a ghost. “Cassandra Whitlock,” he replied, nodding slightly. “I don’t mean to be rude, but, erm, what are you doing here?” I asked, all the while concentrating on trying to hide my nervousness. Aido walked forward slowly while he laughed again, until he was standing in front of me. The moonlight shimmered over his crystal blue eyes and white teeth. And there were the same long, curved incisors that Akatsuki had, complete with sharp points.

“I am here for an important reason,” he whispered, leaning down to speak directly into my ear. “A very important reason indeed.” He smirked. “Your heart’s beating so quickly. Are you scared of me?” I shook my head insistently, but he simply smiled and we both knew I was lying. “Well, perhaps scared is a tad strong,” he conceded, “Maybe you’re just a little intimidated. Anyway, as I was saying.” He straightened up and took my hand, leading me back to the bench and sat me down, joining me immediately. “I needed to talk to you about something. It’s urgent.”