❃ Evangeline ❃
My head throbbed as I continuously tried to contact Mint or Wind. Alas, all of my efforts were thwarted by the vampire in front of me, he definitely possessed a sort of telepathic power.
He was closing in rapidly, giving me no time to breathe.
Though I could not see the expression on his face, I could tell he held malicious intentions towards me.
Within the darkness, I saw a silhouette resembling a sword forming around his hand.
"First, the barrier cast by the young master needs to go away."
He raised his sword, and the force surrounding it made my hair stand. I didn't think twice, preparing to leap aside.
That's when I noticed the vampire freezing up and he moved.
"Wha--" I muttered out, my words cutting off.
The next moment, instead of me leaping aside, it was him.
"...!"
In an instant, the glass walls to my apartment shattered into pieces. My legs twitched but I was too late, and I shielded my face with my arms as a last resort.
Right before I did that, I caught a glimpse of a winged humanoid figure rushing into the scene via the broken walls.
To my surprise, the glass pieces couldn't even reach me as a wall of blood blocked my vision. The glass shards simply bounced off the barrier, landing on the marble floor with a soft ringing noise.
A dizzy spell hit me instantly, making me stumble.
"...va..!"
The barrier disappeared as quickly as it appeared. The same winged humanoid figure was suddenly in front of me, the moonlight from outside revealing his familiar good-looking face.
This must be the form where he was most powerful.
"Eva!"
His voice filled my chest with warmth, and a smile flitted past my lips.
Even in such a situation, I still felt happy.
"...Segi--"
My words were cut off as he engulfed me in a hug. His black wings enshrouded me, his arms around my shoulders and waist.
"You are okay," his breathing was rough as his voice trembled. "You are okay."
It seemed like he was expressing his relief rather than comforting me.
I continued smiling, raising my hand and patting on his back. His wings twitched under my palm as I did so.
"...yes, Segi, I'm fine," I said softly. "Thanks to you."
"I thought staying away from you would be better," he tightened his arms around me, anger lacing his voice. "I was wrong, very wrong."
"Segi."
"What is it? Ar-are you really hurt after all?!"
He inhaled sharply, recoiling back in alarm. I could finally take a good look at his face, after a month of missing him.
"No, you aren't hurt. You can't be hurt."
His concerned red vampiric eyes, his furrowed defined eyebrows and his beautiful thin lips were slightly pursed.
"I don't smell your blood anywhere--and your breathing is stable."
"I'm fine."
"Now that I'm here, I won't let anything hurt you," he growled out angrily, his touch on me was gentle. "Not even a single strand of hair."
I let out a small laugh.
"How can you laugh in such a situation?"
"It's just..." I whispered out, showing him a brilliant smile as I reached up, touching his cheek. "I missed you so much."
He went still, his eyes widening.
"Welcome back--"
"To think you would fly all the way here instead of conjuring a portal," the vampire from before interrupted, a smirk in his voice. "Young master Segi, you must be desperate to conserve your powers."
Segi gritted his teeth, spinning around and spreading out his wings to shield me.
"It's only a dispute between me and my uncle, Eva has no involvement in this."
"If she were to disappear, you'll realise how fleeting her existence was in your heart."
"Don't you dare insult her like that!" Segi roared. "Don't you dare insult my only source of solace in this damned world."
I blinked up at Segi in surprise.
"As expected, she needs to die for you to wake up from this dream, young master."
"If you dare touch her," Segi hissed out, his red eyes glowing. "I will kill you, even if you are my brethren."
The vampire took a step forward, and Segi stepped back. He searched his surroundings, and I knew he was looking for a safe spot for me.
I glanced behind me, knowing that my bedroom was there.
"Don't worry about me, Segi. I'll hide and find a way to contact someone for help."
"Hide yourself well."
"That's something I've learned my whole life." I muttered out, snatching a piece of glass from the ground and sprinting my way to my bedroom.
The vampire sent out a blood javelin towards me, however, Segi stepped in. He caught the blood javelin easily, absorbing it back into his body.
I went into my bedroom, slamming the door shut. Without hesitation, I grabbed the chair from my dressing table, pushing it up against the doorknob.
The next moment, I tried to contact Mint and Wind again. The dizzy spell from earlier hit me again, and I knew it wasn't just the interference from the vampire affecting me this time.
The aftereffects of the barrier were starting to take a toll. Fortunately, since it wasn't used as much, it was tolerable.
I could hear vicious snarling and thrashing outside.
"Argh!"
"Tch!"
"How are you still so strong now?! You were surrounded earlier!"
"Surrender and leave!"
Contacting the police right now would put Segi in harm's way. There was only one other person I could contact now that could comprehend the situation. Alas, he was still lying on the hospital bed with an injured hand.
If only there was a way to contact someone with healing powers.
The price to hire them was one thing, but scheduling an appointment with them was next to impossible.
Money wasn't my concern here.
It was time.
I contemplated for a moment, the battle outside making my heart pound loudly. In the end, I shook my head to myself.
I should trust Segi.
Holding the glass shards in my hand, I backed away from the door. The entire time, I kept my eyes on it as the noises outside began to die down.
I heard someone gasping as they spoke incoherently, making my heart skip a beat. I approached the door, leaning in and listening in carefully.
The voice didn't belong to Segi.
I sighed in relief.
I heard some movements again before it was followed by a long silence, I held the glass shard in my hands, glaring at the door.
Knock.
I flinched, biting on my lower lip.
"Eva, it's me."
My face immediately brightened up before I paused, feeling conflicted.
"I...I heard of some vampires being able to shapeshift and mind control," I spoke hesitantly, taking a cautious step forward. "Are you really...Segi?"
I heard a low chuckle outside the door, and it carried no malicious intent.
It seemed as if the person was really Segi.
"Here, those vampires cannot shapeshift objects," he said, and slipped under the gap of the door. "You'll recognise this, Eva."
I glanced down, scrutinizing the object.
It was the name tag that Segi always wore.
I hurried to check if I could contact Mint and Wind.
"Mint? Wind?"
"Yes, Miss Evangeline."
"Yes, boss?"
"...I-I will speak later."
I threw the glass shard aside, moving the chair away from the doorknob in a hurry, pulling the door open.
Segi stood outside, his entire being drenched in blood. He clutched at his stomach, obviously in pain but yet, he smiled softly at me.
"You are safe now, he went away--"
I gasped out shakily, embracing Segi without any hesitation, closing my eyes. The metallic stench of blood didn't deter me, since it didn't matter to me as long as Segi was safe.
"I didn't know what to do if I saw you on the ground instead."
Segi breathed out, using his clean hand to stroke my head. "If it's concerning you, even if I were to die, I wouldn't let any harm come to you."
"...I don't need you to die for me."
"..." Segi didn't say a word back, stroking my head quietly.
"You need to come back alive, Segi." I added on, lifting up my head and staring at his red vampiric eyes.
There was a blood stain on his cheek, but I didn't care.
"Don't worry, Eva. I am not that weak..." he smiled, his voice was soft as it trailed off.
He stumbled, his entire weight collapsing onto me.
I gasped, holding Segi up.
"Segi?!"
"So-sorry, I think I used up...too much blood..."
He slid down, dropping onto the ground. I couldn't support his entire weight.
The two of us landed on the ground and I adjusted our position, putting Segi's head on my lap.
The moonlight streamed in, and I could finally see the condition he was in. It wasn't just the stomach he was bleeding from, there were numerous wounds scattered throughout his body.
"Now I understand why my uncle kept that arrogant vampire by his side, his abilities weren't just for show."
"Ho-hold on, I'll get Mint and Wind to get some blood bags straight away--"
"You can't."
I frowned, looking at Segi.
"I know the procedure to get blood bags isn't easy for humans, since they are afraid of vampires disguising themselves or humans colluding with them," Segi raised his clean hand, touching my cheek lightly. "You'll be under the watch of dangerous metahumans your entire life, and I can't subject you to that life."
"I don't care, you've done so much for me, Segi."
"But I care."
"Then where do you get your source of blood from?!" I questioned, frustrated at his persistence.
"A trusted source, but they are far and it's too late to send your assistants there now," he shook his head, staring into my eyes. "By the time they make it back here with the blood, I'll be in an eternal sleep."
An eternal sleep.
Vampires don't die in this world.
Instead, they sleep eternally if they are dying. There was no telling when they would wake up, and in that state, they are as good as dead.
I widened my eyes in horror.
Segi can't just leave like that.
He gave so much to me.
I reached for my collar, pulling it down. "Bite me, and drink my blood!"
Segi squeezed his eyes close, looking away as he shook his head.
He was clearly hungry for blood.
Why was he rejecting me?
"I'm bleeding from the inside of my mouth, if I were to drink your blood right now, my blood would enter your bloodstream," Segi gritted out, still not looking at me. "There would be no going back."
"From me becoming a vampire?"
"No, it will be different since I'm a pure-blooded vampire. In our world, you need to go through a ritual to become a proper vampire. Those vampire fledglings you see, they went through a very painful process to become what they are now, and they aren't fully vampires either."
"What's so different about a pure-blooded vampire?"
"If my blood enters your body, you form a blood contract with me, Eva. The two of us will be linked for life, and that means you cannot die unless I do--"
"That's fine with me."
"No, Eva, you don't understand."
Segi finally turned to look back at me, reaching out and clasping onto my hand.
"If another vampire were to bite you once we form the contract, you'll die no matter what. I...can't do anything to change the sickening part of the blood contract, and..." Segi hesitated, unable to meet my eyes once again. "Immortality may look simple at first glance, but experiencing it is different. You are no longer human and neither are you a vampire, it isn't uncommon for those in the contract to go insane."
"None of that will happen."
"You may say that now, but I've seen it happen too many times, Eva."
"I'm different from them!"
"They said the same, but it all ends up the same either way."
"But you are dying right before me, Segi! You can't expect me to do nothing!"
"..."
I was beyond frustrated at this point. A thought occurred in my mind and I glanced around hastily, seeing something glinting in the dark. I grunted, reaching for it and immediately placing the object near my wrist.
"Eva? What are you--"
I exerted all the strength into the glass shard, slicing my wrist. The barrier wouldn't work since I was harming myself. I couldn't help crying out in pain as blood dripped out, some of it landing on Segi's cheek as his eyes widened in disbelief.
"...you idiot!"
He sat up but I reacted first, pressing him down with one arm.
The pain was excruciating as my wrist throbbed incessantly. I couldn't understand how people could cut themselves like that without flinching or showing any pain.
"Open...your mouth!" I demanded, my eyes watering slightly as the pain grew by the second.
Segi opened his mouth and I tilted my wrist, pouring the blood seeping out into his mouth. His eyes began to glow and his throat moved, gulping my blood greedily.
"This way...you won't touch me...right?" I gasped out, smiling slightly.
Segi didn't say a word back, his eyes closing as he relished in the taste of my blood, sighing.
I wanted to expedite the process, squeezing at the area near my wrist as more blood flowed out.
I cried out, the pain piercing my entire arm.
It hurts.
It really hurts!
That cry seemed to jolt Segi out of his daze, his eyes bursting open. He bolted up, pressing on the wound on my wrist that was bleeding out incessantly.
"Enough, Eva! Are you crazy?! You are hurting yourself--"
"If this is the pain I have to go through to save your life, then I'll do it a hundred times if I have to."
"...why are you so..."
I smiled at him through the pain, a drop of sweat rolling down my face. "Are you going to let my blood go to waste like that?"
"..."
I pulled his hand away from wrist, pressing it to his mouth.
"Drink up all you need."
He narrowed his eyes, licking up my blood on his hand as his crimson irises glowed. He grabbed my wrist gently, letting my blood pour into his mouth. He continued drinking it like he was quenching his undying thirst after being stranded in a desert.
Half a minute passed just like that, the quiet bedroom filled with the gulping sounds and the pleased, low sighs from Segi.
"Eva, oh Eva."
"You taste so delicious."
"So sweet."
He said in between each gulp.
From time to time, the blood would flow out from Segi's mouth and his pink tongue darted out, licking up all the blood seductively.
If it weren't for how lightheaded I felt, there was no doubt I would be blushing.
His husky voice, risque words and actions, all of it felt immoral.
In fact, I was thankful how lightheaded I felt at this moment. This promiscuous scene in front of me was something a sober me wouldn't be able to bear.
"Mint. Wind."
"Yes, boss! You finally called us again!"
"Is there something you need?"
"Yeah, a doctor..."
"What?!"
"Send a doctor to my house straight away..."
The dizzy spell came back again, and this time, it hit me completely.
My vision grew blurry and my body went slack.
"...!"
Segi was startled out of his daze, reaching out to catch me before I hit the ground.
"Don't worry, I'm fine, just a little..."
Maybe not just a little.
I was extremely light headed.
"I'm fine, really..."
The next moment, I felt my consciousness drifting.
"Eva!"
"...va...!"
I heard Segi calling out to me incessantly, his face that regained its colour went pale once again.
Wait a minute.
Weren't vampires really pale in the first place?
I smiled to myself, giving in to the dizziness.
~.~.~
There was something soft and fluffy nuzzling against my arm, rousing me from my sleep.
I blinked drowsily, noticing I was on my bed rather than the ground. There was an IV drip attached to my arm, and blood flowed through it. Glancing down, I saw a familiar black fluffball.
It was curled up, its head burrowing in my arm.
"Segi?" I whispered out, turning my head.
The little black rabbit shot its head up, his ears perking up in an instant. He didn't seem to mind as strands of my caramel-blonde hair tickled him.
"Kyu!"
"...?"
Why did Segi turn back into a black rabbit?
"You are finally awake, Miss Evangeline."
I recognised that raspy feminine voice.
It belonged to the personal doctor of Evangeline.
"Seriously," my doctor sighed out, ruffling her auburn shoulder-length hair. "I thought I was going to die."
"Wh..." I croaked out, realising my voice was failing me.
She offered me a glass of water.
I accepted it gratefully, drinking down the water as it brought relief to my dry throat.
"Christine, why did you think you were going to die?" I questioned.
She gestured towards Segi with her head, her arms across her chest.
"Because your little black rabbit wanted to kill me."
"..."
"...what?"
Segi simply lowered his head, looking away guilty.
~.~.~
〘 Behind the scenes 〙
"..."
Christine thought it was ridiculous as she set up the medical equipment, checking up on Evangeline's condition.
She entered the house, coming face to face with an innocent little black rabbit trembling as it stared at Evangeline with sad eyes.
However, right now, that innocent little black rabbit was boring holes into her back.
It was as if, it was seeping out an invisible threat.
A threat that spoke.
"If Evangeline is in danger in any way, I will end you."
She felt scared.
...because of a tiny little rabbit.
A tiny little rabbit!
Christine swivelled her head, narrowing her eyes at the rabbit.
"Take those accusing eyes away! I'm a doctor, I wouldn't let my patient die that easily!"
The rabbit just regarded her with askance.
"Don't you know me? I'm Christine, top in my industry! I'm a famous doctor you know! Do you know how much people line up just to get me to treat them?!"
The rabbit remained still, wearing the same expression.
"Stop giving me that look! You are just a little rabbit, how dare you scare me--"
A menacing aura burst out from that little black rabbit.
Christine flinched, turning around and focusing her attention back on Evangeline.
"Fi-fine! I got it!"
She made a face, sighing. She confirmed that Evangeline was in the safe zone, she was anaemic due to the loss of blood. The cut on her wrist was bandaged up nicely.
"Jesus, what the hell am I doing? Arguing with a rabbit?"
"Kyu."
Christine jumped.
"Kyah!"
Christine clenched her jaw, pointing at the rabbit. "If you scare me like that, I won't be able to concentrate!"
The rabbit composed itself, looking away.
She clicked her tongue, her hands moving swiftly around Evangeline as she grumbled to herself.
"Tch. You were the one pleading me to save her so desperately with those eyes, and now you are threatening me--"
"Kyu kyu!"
"Ahh!"
Christine jumped again.
"Alright, alright! I'll focus now, so stop it!"
Seriously!
This black little rabbit was really trying to kill her!
〘 End 〙
~.~.~
Author's Note: I am sick while writing this so, if there are any funny sentences, just know I'm writing it like I'm half-drunk. I literally edited one sentence out that wrote as "I can't Segi can't just like leave that."
Yeah, that's how bad it is (':
Also, I made that scene above more tantalizing than I intended to. Sorry to those who were expecting some sort of overly saccharine and touching moment of drinking someone's blood in a vampire book.
Seems like my brain was just wired to write it as something raunchy.
All vampire-themed books tend to be rather tantalizing anyway. Not all, but most. Keyword, most.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter c: