Chapter Ten: The Blood Pact

Another sunny morning. I awoke slowly from deep slumber. Having gone a whole day without eating and expending much energy hunting that vampire yesterday, I felt a faint weakness upon waking.

"Miss, will you skip breakfast again today?" Ang asked with concern.

"Yes," I replied calmly, the sunlight outside draining my spirits.

After Ang assisted me with dressing and grooming, I took the carriage to pick up Xingyu for school.

"Lilith, what's wrong? You look so listless," Xingyu asked as we traveled, unable to hide her worry.

"It's nothing. I probably didn't sleep well last night," I lied, masking the increasing craving for blood that my weakened body brought. Sitting beside Xingyu, I struggled to restrain myself, suppressing the urge to feed, which only made my weakness grow.

It wasn't until we arrived at school and Xingyu got out of the car that the urge finally subsided. Steadying myself, I stepped out as well; Ang had already opened a black umbrella, waiting for me. The sunlight stung, burning my skin even beneath the shade. It was only morning light, and yet, with the umbrella's protection, the pain of burning persisted. My body had truly weakened—just one day without nourishment.

"Lilith?" Xingyu sensed something was wrong, her concern deepening.

"I'm fine," I replied, my voice steady to assure her. She watched me anxiously but chose not to press further. After a day of recovery, Xingyu could walk on her own again, refusing any assistance. Together, we headed slowly toward the classroom.

"Nana, Xingyu," Le Xiaoyou's lively voice rang out as usual.

"Good morning, Xiaoyou," Xingyu greeted her.

"Nana, you look pale. Are you sick?" Le Xiaoyou noticed my condition.

"I'm all right, just a little tired," my voice was weak.

"Maybe you should rest in the nurse's office?" Xingyu remained worried.

"Don't worry, I'm really fine," I insisted.

"Okay, but Nana, don’t push yourself. If you’re not well, go home," she said as the class meeting was about to begin. Xingyu and Le Xiaoyou returned to their seats, still worried.

All day, I endured the burning of sunlight. After becoming weak, my resistance to sunlight had diminished greatly. I would never have feared such light before, but now, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. My pale face and sluggish demeanor kept Xingyu and Le Xiaoyou anxious until dusk, when I finally felt somewhat better.

After school, I saw Xingyu home, then returned to the manor by carriage.

Night fell—the hour of the blood clan.

Standing quietly by the window, I savored the cold serenity of the night, soothing the burns suffered during the day.

"Miss," Ang spoke behind me.

"Hmm?" I asked softly.

"Miss, you must realize that if this continues, the strain on your body will be too much," Ang said with concern.

"Don't worry. I can still bear it," I replied coolly. Apart from Xingyu's blood, I had lost all appetite for anyone else's.

"You care about that human because of his blood, don't you?" Ang said.

"Of course," I answered without hesitation.

"Then you shouldn’t wait any longer," Ang advised. "You’ve held off tasting his blood, thinking the anticipation would make it more delicious, but now, hunger is affecting your health. Will you continue to endure?"

"Enough, I'll consider it," I interrupted.

"Your Highness, to you, that human is merely food, isn’t he?" Ang looked steadily into my eyes.

"Of course," I met his gaze, but my voice lacked the conviction it once had.

"Then please don’t hesitate any longer. He’s just a human—how could his existence compare to your well-being?" Ang pressed firmly.

"Hmph, I understand. Tonight I’ll claim my prey. Will that satisfy you?" Faced with Ang’s rare assertiveness, I relented; whenever my safety was involved, Ang became truly relentless.

"Yes, Miss. Forgive my earlier boldness," Ang reverted to his usual respectful manner.

"Forget it. You worry for me, as you should," I replied, then gazed silently out at the night. Xingyu’s blood is mine—this was decided from the beginning. Why hesitate now? Tonight would be the night of the feast; my resolve was set. In the cold moonlight, I revealed my true vampiric form, racing toward Xingyu’s home with Ang.

The full moon hung high. Standing atop the building opposite Xingyu’s house, I looked down into her bedroom. Even with curtains drawn, I could hear her heartbeat, feel the flow of her blood.

"Ang, wait here. I’ll go alone," I ordered.

"Yes, Miss," Ang replied respectfully, vanishing into the shadows.

My body dissolved into a swarm of blood-red bats, disappearing from sight.

By Xingyu’s bedside, I stood silently, watching her sleeping face. Even in slumber, a gentle smile lingered. The scent of her blood filled the room, luring me closer. At last, unable to resist, my sharp fangs extended, inching toward her neck.

My fangs touched her throat; I could sense the flow of her pure blood, smell its enticing aroma. Just a little pressure, and I would taste the blood I had longed for, finally free from the torment of sunlight.

"Mm," feeling my cold fangs at her neck, Xingyu murmured and turned, but did not wake.

I watched her, oblivious beneath my teeth, and gently withdrew from her neck. I couldn’t do it. Just a little force, and everything would resolve; just a little force, and I could escape all pain—yet I could not. I had lied to Ang. Xingyu was no longer merely food to me; somewhere along the way, her presence had rooted deeply in my heart.

It was only the fourth day since we met, and yet I had developed feelings for a lowly human. I laughed at myself. Perhaps from the very first moment I saw him, I had been incapable of harming him—a ridiculous love at first sight, illogical and senseless, but it was true. Xingyu’s aura was so similar to hers, I truly could not act.

When I realized why I cared so much, I could have tasted his blood and claimed him completely, but I did not. I didn’t want to hurt him, didn’t want to lay hands on him, and so I fabricated the excuse that anticipation would make his blood sweeter, all to deceive myself, to avoid facing my own cowardice. Yes, I was truly weak, only now admitting my feelings. I liked him. I was willing to pay any price to protect him.

How absurd—the first princess of the blood clan, daughter of the blood prince, noble Liliana Lilith Dracula, falling for a lowly human. What a joke. But so what? I had made up my mind. I truly liked him.

Gazing at Xingyu’s sleeping face, I made my decision. I sliced open my fingertip, pressing out a drop of dark golden blood onto Xingyu’s lips, then gently kissed them. After a while, the golden blood vanished from her lips, silently flowing within her.

This was the Blood Pact, a bond each vampire may forge only once in their lifetime. From now on, Xingyu’s life and mine were intertwined, until his life ended. I stroked his cheek softly, kissed his lips once more, then turned and vanished from his room.

"Ang, let’s go," I said, returning to Ang’s side.

"Miss?" Ang asked, concern in his voice.

"Forgive me, Ang. I can’t do it. I can’t harm her. I never saw her as food. I’ve been lying to myself. I love her," I said calmly.

"Miss, do you know what you’re saying?" Ang shouted angrily. "He’s just a lowly human. He’ll bring you nothing but pain—don’t you understand?"

"Of course I do, but this is my choice," I replied firmly. No one knew better than I what pain awaited when vampire and human became entwined.

"I won’t let this happen. I’ll kill him, even if it means defying your orders. Forgive me, Your Highness," Ang placed a hand on his chest and knelt, then shot toward Xingyu’s room like a shadow.

With a metallic clang, my figure vanished, and in mid-air, my black scythe collided with Ang’s outstretched claws, sending him recoiling.

"Your Highness, you know you can’t stop me," Ang said, his tone earnest and grave.

"I know. In terms of strength, only Father could best you, and few others. But it’s useless. You can’t kill him—you won’t," I said calmly. "Today, I not only realized my feelings; I forged a Blood Pact with him."

"Are you insane?" Ang shouted furiously. "The Blood Pact! Damn it! When his life ends, you’ll die too!"

"I know. I’ve grown weary of endless years, tired of solitude and loneliness. Perhaps sharing his fate will be my release," I replied with a smile.

"Miss," Ang’s voice carried regret and frustration.

"Enough, Ang. My life is bound to his now. So, for my sake, protect him," I said, glancing once more at Xingyu’s bedroom, where the light had come on. More lights flickered across the neighborhood; our voices had awakened many.

"Let’s go," I said, lingering for a last look at his room. A cloud of blood-red bats swept me away.

Ang, eyes burning with fury, glared at Xingyu’s bedroom, clenched his fists in frustration, then vanished in pursuit.

Xingyu, sleepy-eyed, opened her curtains and looked out at the empty night, puzzled. "Did I just hear Lilith’s voice?"

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