*VICKY*The next evening, I stood in front of my bedroom mirror and gazed at myself. My pale skin contrasted beautifully against the navy blue evening gown Leon had purchased the day before. I topped it off with some long black earrings and a black clutch bag that I had thrifted in Newtons City as a 'just in case' accessory.I looked stunning; to the human eye, even moreso. But I couldn't stop thinking about the box lying in my living room from Markus. After opening it, I couldn't bring myself to move it. Instead of facing my problems head on, I decided to leave it and go about my daily tasks. Except, everytime I returned home, it was there, like a constant reminder of my past melding with my future.God, why now? Talk about ill timing. It was like a consistent reminder that Leon's life was in danger, and now that we were bonded, whoever was after him, would have even more incentive to attack. I needed to get to the bottom of it before it was too late—but there was still that part o
*LEON*I could remember watching romantic comedies with old girlfriends as a late teenager and even as a young adult in my twenties, thinking how absurd it was that a man or woman would give up their entire life—whether that be their well-paying job, their dreams, or their life of solitude—for that special someone. To me, it was a state of insanity. But now. Now here I sat, in my office, feeling entirely different than even a few days ago. I had given up my entire life for someone. I was bonded, and as I looked out my office door window, I smiled as I saw Vicky working away on some dish I had no doubt was incredible. The way she moved, with such purpose and confidence. It never ceased to amaze me. She never ceased to amaze me. To be honest, ever since we bonded…I had this overwhelming desire to take it a step further. She had told me that, eventually, I'd be granted eternal life. This prospect didn't scare me or intrigue me in the slightest, as it would most. But it did get me thi
*LEON*When the appointed time came, I arrived outside of a small shop. The sign attached was an old flip sign that read 'closed', but I knew better. I put a hand on the door and pressed it open. For some reason, I was very nervous, moving the journal in my hand to the other. I knew to anyone outside of myself that this looked shifty, but she wasn't telling me what was going on and clearly wasn't going to.Despite only knowing Vicky for a short period of time, I knew her, and now that we were bonded, that familiarity grew. I don't know how, but I could tell something was off, and I needed to figure it out. If I could help her in any way…"We're closed!" a voice bellowed. Two seconds later, it was accompanied by a short, elderly man with grey hair wearing a pair of glasses around his neck. "Oh, Leon, my boy. I thought you were a customer." "I'm not a customer?" I joked, approaching the wooden counter. "You've been visiting me every month since you were fresh out of high school.
*VICKY*The rain smashed against the overhang, making a resounding boom through the city while we waited for Leon's car to be brought around and my cab to arrive. "So, what'd you think of the movie?" I asked, looking at Leon, wrapping my jacket tighter around my body to shield myself from the cold. "It was…different."I tilted my head. "Are you okay? You were quiet during the movie and haven't really spoken since." "Yeah, just a lot on my mind." "Is there something I can do to help?" Leon shook his head. "No." I observed him as he stood, staring across the street into the darkness ahead. Something told me that something was off with him, only I had no idea what. "Can you stop staring at me?" he snapped. I was taken aback by his sudden change in tone and inability to look me directly in the eye. "I-I was just trying to make sure you—""That I what?" This time, he locked eyes with me, and they were almost pitch black. "That I found out the truth?" I swore my heart
*VICKY*After my evening with Leon, things went radio silent between us for a few days; at work and in our personal life. He was angry—and had every right to be—-but he was also giving me space to come to my own conclusions. Conclusions I realized I needed to deal with before it was too late. Leon was right. He could protect himself, and if he was willing to jump into the fire with me, who was I to deny him that? He was his own person making his own decisions, and he deserved the opportunity to make those choices for himself. Not have me do it for him. I picked up my phone and dialed his number. If someone was using him as a bargaining chip, and his life truly was in danger, he needed to know. The call rang three, then four times. For a minute, I wasn't sure he was going to answer. Then I heard the phone line click."Hello?"I felt instantly comforted by the sound of his voice. He was okay. The man I had talked to in the park wasn't lying, at least about that. "I'm ready to ta
*VICKY*As I made my way into Newtons City, I came to the realization that whoever was hunting me wouldn't let go of the opportunity to seize me. The fact that the silver-masked man let me go the other day proved me right. They were planning something bigger, and I had a feeling it was going to happen sooner rather than later. I picked up the pace and followed the path that the Elders Messenger had taken me on to the Elders Church. If anyone knew what to do, it was Lord Tybrius. I came to a halt outside of the entrance. Now that I was here, I realized that I had no idea how I was to approach this situation. You can't just knock on the secret entrance to the Elders Church, and I had no idea what spell the Elder Messenger used to grant us access. Turns out, I didn't have to. A minute later, the ground began to shake, and the fountain sunk in, just as it had before. The stairs then appeared, and near the top of them was Lord Tybrius. "Vicky," he said. "I thought I sensed you." He
*VICKY*The next day, the morning sun beat down on my face as I waited outside the fountain for Leon's arrival. I continuously looked around for movement and smelt the air for Leon's distinctive smell. Nothing. I'd been here for over an hour, long past when Lord Tybrius said they'd arrive and still saw nothing. Just then, a gust of wind came flying toward me, and when I opened my eyes, I saw the Elder Messenger and a flustered Leon carrying a duffle bag on his shoulder. The strap fell as they came to a complete halt. "When you said you'd send a Messenger…that was not what I was anticipating." I couldn't contain myself anymore. Knowing he was here and safe, I rushed into his arms and was happy to feel the hug reciprocated. "I'm so glad you're okay," I muttered into his chest. His body relaxed at my touch, and he bent down to kiss the top of my head. "Me too." He then pushed me back and held me at arms length. "But I need you to tell me what's going on. Everything." I nodded
*VICKY*That night, in addition to the pleasing sex, Leon also talked to me a lot about his history. I also reciprocated by telling him a lot of my past stories—about my life as a CEO, a designer, a pilot, a Queen. He deserved to know everything, and the weight I felt fall off my shoulders was unlike anything else I'd experienced. Leon's hand ran lazily through my hair as he pushed it to the side. "You know," he began. "The darkness and whole medieval vibe down here is something I could get used to." "Yeah?" I replied with a smirk.Leon buried his head into my neck. "Yeah. As long as you're here…I can overcome anything." I groaned and pushed him away. "What?! I thought you lived for the sappiness." "I did, but then I realized how much I liked being on my own. I should really reconsider that idea…" I teased, shooting a wink at him. "Oh, that's it. You've asked for it now." Leon lunged for me and pushed me back onto the bed, climbing on top of me and restraining my hands.
*Leon*I knew Vicky had to leave at some point. Our sweet time together couldn't last forever, but I didn't expect that moment to come so quickly. Although I knew that moment was bound to come, and although I had prepared myself mentally, I still felt lost when it really happened. It seemed like something had been taken away from my heart, and it suddenly became empty.I was actually a particularly timid person who was afraid of loss. The more I remembered those beautiful times, I couldn't help how sad I felt because of them. But now there was no time for me to drown in such emotions. After Vicky left, I immediately arranged a flight and returned to New York in a hurry. After that night, Jaydan never appeared in the office again. I heard from Vicky that they were, in a sense, a similar kind.As a normal human being, I had become a minority instead.Now I felt that the answers to all those questions should be within my family. But with my current situation, not
*Vicky*I stepped forward and the members of the Elder's Church who'd been waiting on the sidelines draped me in a ritual robe. Afterwards they would then drive a long nail into my heart, which was stained with the blood of Lord Primogenitor, allowing me to maintain my strength while falling into slumber.Kristen pulled the switch next to my sculpture. The sculpture slowly descended, and a pure white coffin rose up. I stepped into the coffin, waiting for them to drive a long nail into my heart. If they could do it skillfully, I wouldn't feel the pain.I closed my eyes and waited for the moment to come. But at that moment, the entrance to the hall of the Sanctuary suddenly became noisy. It seemed someone had barged in."Silence! Don't you know where this place is? Don't disturb the slumber of Lord Primogenitor and the Kindreds!"Kristen tried to silence his men when the guards at the door came rushing in to report."Lord Tybirus, we have visitors.""Wh
*Vicky*I couldn't believe my eyes. The diary clearly recorded the process of the experiment done back then. I read every line of words on it attentively."We conducted experiments on the experimental subjects with a variety of drug combinations. The vast majority of reagents caused the direct death of the subjects. Only reagent No. 69 worked. The toxins in the blood of the subject were finally removed after repeated injections, and the subject was restored to its human identity. After follow-up investigations for half a year, the subject's mental condition was normal, and he was well integrated into society. This was really an exciting moment. After centuries of exploration, our research finally yielded results...""The most crucial formula for Reagent No. 69 is the Mist Lotus, the Holy Water, and..."The pages that recorded the key materials was blurred and unrecognizable at the bottom because of its age. What was the last constituent element?I was a little
*Vicky*I took a closer look and saw that it was the familiar face of a middle-aged man."How did you find me?""I followed your bat here."The Messenger pointed to the reconnaissance bat on his head. It was originally placed near my house in New York to be responsible for guarding. If there was something important, the Messenger could use blood to communicate directly with it and ask it to locate me.I put away my claws and looked upstairs. Leon hadn't woken up yet."If you have something to say, then hurry up and say it so you can leave already."My tone was a little anxious. Now that The Messenger had appeared here, there was a high probability that the Elder's Church already knew about what I'd done.The Messenger took out a letter inside a black envelope, on which was stamped a blood-red seal with a flame emblem. The moment I saw that emblem, I immediately understood what it meant."I'm sorry, my lord. Please return quickly. Before that
*Vicky*"Leon, we discussed this last time. Right now, the situation at hand isn't over. Even if we run away, they'll find us. I have to stay.""Alright then, I'll stay with you.""No, Leon, you still have things to do, and your mother wouldn't want to see you waste your life so casually.""You're wrong. During this period, I realized we were all caught in a misunderstanding. You and I always want to carry everything for each other, but we've never thought love is a matter of two people. No matter what happens, we need to face it together. Therefore, I won't leave today. We'll never be separated in the future."Leon grabbed my hand. I stared at the determined look in his eyes and finally let go of all my worries. I nodded."Okay…okay, just as you said, let's go to a new place and start over. No matter what happens, I won't leave you again."I leaned on his shoulder, the happiness sweeping away my exhaustion.Suddenly, a car hurried to the entranc
*Vicky*Arthur was afraid of death, and now he was so frightened by me that he couldn't say a word.Of course, I was happy to see him like this. I waved my right hand with First Snow and viciously pierced his other leg. In an instant, the freezing air sealed his whole leg. He howled loudly in pain, and now the unbeatable king of the underground was like a lost dog, unable to even escape."Laugh again. Go on, why did you stop?"I slowly slashed his clothes with my claws."No, don't do this! Please let me go!""Let you go? There should be many people who've begged you just like that, right? Have you spared them? You didn't even spare your own brother for the sake of profit, and you wantonly take innocent lives in order to gain your father's favor."Swish. I flicked my claws and tore a piece of flesh from his leg."Ahhh!"Painful screams echoed through the warehouse, but no one could come to his aid now."Do you remember the boy named Lou?
*Vicky*Men poured in endlessly from all around the containers and docks, forming what seemed to be an endless ocean of people. Despite that, I enjoyed the thrill of the kill. I didn't know how long it had been since I last had such a feeling.The crowd wouldn't stay a crowd for long though. After I killed a few people and created an opening, I flew to the window and used the echoes of the guns for the scout bats to find the snipers who were hidden and shooting at me. I appeared in front of them in an instant, and they, who had thought they were in a safe place, looked at me in surprise as I rushed towards them. The last scene they saw was me waving First Snow to take their heads off.I wandered in Shadow Form and appeared behind them silently, slicing their bodies one by one like cutting a watermelon, and after licking the blood from my lips, I began to get more excited.After cleaning up the borders of the place, I returned to the warehouse and found that the grou
*Vicky*I packed up my things, took First Snow with me, and changed into a track suit that was easy to move in.Tonight, everything would finally end. "Leon, if I come back alive, I'll be there to see you, and if I don't make it through the night, I want you to be happy and take Osip and go live somewhere where no one knows you."I took a deep breath, zipped up my backpack, and walked out of the room.Just as I was about to enter the shadows, Jaydan suddenly called out to me."Vicky! Vicky, wait a minute. Don't go yet!"He came running towards me, panting and looking a little panicked."Something's wrong. Leon's been taken!""What? How did this happen?""A large group of people, supposedly Arthur's men, came to the hotel today. They said they were there to take over the hotel business and forced me to hand over all my management access codes. I didn't give them up though, and found a chance to transform and escape.""Do you know where h
*Leon*"Are you wondering how we found out you were scheming something?" Conrad continued, "I know about everything you've done since you arrived here, including that smart-ass little tunnel of yours. Did you really think I didn't know? I knew about it before your mother passed away, and I left it there on purpose."Why? Why couldn't I read the thoughts of the people around me? Not just Conrad, but also Arthur and his subordinates—I couldn't read any of them. How was this possible? They couldn't have professionally trained everyone, could they?Conrad saw my puzzled expression and seemed extremely pleased."Hahaha! Well, well, well, curious as to why your little trick doesn't work anymore, aren't you?"He casually pulled one of his subordinates over and showed me the electronic bracelet on his wrist."This is a blocking bracelet, a small device recently developed by our scientists. When we wear it, we can truly become invisible. Even those alien creatures'