3. A Bite

Triana.

Triana could hear the pounding of her heart. Without her consent, her eyes rolled sideways to avoid the gaze of the skull-faced vampire.

‘Oh, God! I've never lied in my entire life! I truly apologize!’ Triana cried in her heart.

Occasionally, Triana glanced at Vlador's face. She truly couldn't read the vampire's expression—not because of his cold demeanor, but because skulls don't have facial muscles to express. Even the man's lips didn't move when he spoke. He simply opened his mouth, and words miraculously escaped past his rows of teeth.

The silence made Triana's hair stand on end. She didn't know what the vampire, who no longer spoke, was thinking.

Was he suspicious of her? Well, who wouldn't be? She was foolish enough to claim that the potion would make him young again.

The tale of the disappearance of the vampire race had been passed down through generations. Vampires perished after warring with humans, who were aided by witches. In other words, witches and vampires were archenemies.

Indeed, the potion Triana was offering Vlador wouldn't make him young at all. The witch had said she despised vampires and wanted to make them suffer.

Vlador Lev Dracount was said to be the last vampire in Galvadea. He survived because a witch cursed him to eternal life and let him starve until he became as desiccated as he was now. The witch Triana met said the potion would make a vampire burn inside for a full week without killing them. She just wanted to make him suffer for her own satisfaction.

In her heart, Triana didn’t have the heart to do it, even though she had heard that vampires had killed many innocent people. But she had no other choice, especially since she had made a pact with the witch. If she didn't do it, she would become hideous.

"Very well."

"I didn't lie-," Triana said, stopping her sentence. "Very well?" she repeated.

"I will drink it," Vlador said.

"You... will drink it?"

"Don't repeat my words," Vlador said coldly.

"I’m sorry, but... are you really going to drink it? Are you sure?"

"Why do you keep asking? Is it poison that will make me suffer?"

"No, of course not." Triana shook her head. Then she cleared her throat. "All right then-"

"But I have a condition for you," Vlador interrupted her sentence.

"A condition? What condition is that?" Triana asked.

"Let me drink your blood."

"Drink my blood?" Triana's eyes widened, and her blue pupils shook.

"Don't repeat my words," Vlador said again.

"No. You'll just kill me!" Triana stepped back, still staring back at Vlador.

Chains jingled as Vlador raised his bony hand. He moved his index finger in a circular pattern. "It's been a hundred years since I drank human blood. If not for the witches' curse, I would have died dry long ago. Being able to drink human blood again is something that makes me feel at least somewhat alive to count more years in this dungeon."

"That potion... I know it won't make me young. It might contain something that makes me choose to die, but won't let me." He continued.

Triana clutched her chest as tightness gripped it. He had indeed known she lied, yet he still agreed to comply with her request just because he wanted to feel alive after a hundred years trapped in this dismal place. She didn't even know how long he had to continue living in this state.

"I won't kill you. Humans die when all their blood is drained, and it takes quite a while. I'll just suck for a few minutes." Vlador stated.

Gulping, Triana turned to her guards, but they just exchanged glances, uncertain of what decision to make. In the end, it was all in Triana's hands, the daughter of the Duke, who employed them.

"Do you… promise not to kill me?" Triana asked as her voice trembling again, matching the pounding of her racing heart.

"I've explained that draining your blood takes a long time. You also see that my hands and feet are bound by magic. I can't attack; instead, it's your guards who could kill me," Vlador replied.

Triana bit her lower lip, then glanced at the glowing potion bottle in her hand.

"If you don't want to, then leave."

Vlador's words snapped Triana out of her reverie. She took a deep breath and nodded. "Very well. But you must keep your promise."

"I believe I cannot break it... no matter how hard I try," Vlador responded.

For the last time, Triana exchanged glances with her guards. The men in protective armor and iron helmets nodded, telling her that they were ready to attack if the vampire didn't keep his promise.

"Come here. I can't walk there," Vlador said.

Returning her gaze forward, Triana took a deep breath before stepping closer to the vampire. Every step felt incredibly heavy, as if her ankles were chained to large stones.

Arriving between Vlador's open legs, Triana gracefully lowered her body and sat on the cold stone floor.

Triana didn't expect Vlador's appearance to be much more terrifying up close. As he straightened his back to approach her, her body trembled.

"Good girl. Now, pull your hair aside. You should know where vampires like to bite," Vlador whispered.

"Wa-wait a moment, please. Does it hurt?" Triana asked, gripping her tense neck.

"Have you ever been stabbed with a knife?" Vlador asked, receiving a shake of the head from Triana. "Then I can't explain it to you," he continued, moving his face closer to her neck.

"Oh, God... Please do it slowly, Mr. Dracount," Triana pleaded as she brushed her long hair off her shoulders.

"Tilt your head to make it more comfortable," Vlador suggested. A suggestion Triana followed reluctantly.

Feeling the hollow sockets of his eyes and his sunken cheeks move closer to her face, Triana could only shut her eyes tightly. She could feel Vlador’s breath, signaling his closeness to her shoulder. Her entire body was tingling, and her heart felt like it was about to explode.

Slowly, Triana felt two sharp objects pressing against the base of her neck. Then, her eyes widened as, without warning, the objects pierced her skin and sank into her flesh.

"AGRH!" Triana's scream was choked in her throat.