บท 35: Chapter 35
In the dark corridors of Lilith's lair, curious and feral vampire gazes followed Mark. Hissing female vampires, seemingly tempted to attack, were deterred as Mark's protective minions responded with their own hissing.
Mark chuckled, particularly amused by Abby's eagerness to defend him. "Good girl, you'll have a drop of blood later," he said, gently caressing her head, eliciting a happy nod from the little vampire. Iris and the others from Marlow's brood watched with envy, having already sampled it when he was wounded.
Iris led the way through the intricate passages until they arrived at a lavishly decorated room adorned with old paintings, deep red curtains, and a mesmerizing row of candles casting a haunting glow, unmistakably befitting the ambiance of a vampire queen's lair.
In the center of the room, a large bathtub took prominence, and within it, a long-haired figure reclined. With her back turned towards the entrance, her hands rested elegantly on the sides of the tub. A female vampire diligently poured buckets of blood into the bath, serving her queen with unwavering loyalty.
The vampire servant whispered to Lilith, who gracefully stood up in the tub, her back still turned, revealing her seductive naked form. Mark couldn't help but whistle in appreciation. Lilith descended from the bath, facing them, as blood cascaded down her body, leaving only her upper body untouched.
Slowly advancing toward them, her gaze fixed on Mark, Lilith exuded a regal presence. Mark, undeterred, looked her up and down. Lilith drew close, sniffing him with closed eyes, clearly pleased. She then turned her attention to the other vampires in the room before fixing her gaze on Iris.
{Is this a gift? Tell Marlow my thanks.} she remarked, referring to Mark's presence in her lair.
Lilith's intense gaze remained fixed on Mark, who smirked confidently. Her smile acknowledged his boldness, interpreting it as either bravery or sheer insanity.
{Leave us.} Lilith commanded, her tone authoritative. Iris hesitated, wanting to speak, but a subtle glare from Mark silenced her. Unaware of the silent exchange, Lilith's other vampires obediently exited the room, leaving the queen alone with him.
{What should I do with you, I wonder?} Lilith's voice resonated in a low tone in her vampire language as she delicately caressed Mark's face, mindful of her sharp, extended fingernails. Tilting her head to the side, she found herself perplexed by the unexpected attraction she felt toward him, particularly his intoxicating scent.
Leaning in, she inhaled deeply at the side of his neck, an unspoken desire to taste his blood lingering in the air. {You carry a scent unlike any other. It intrigues me.} Her voice held a mix of curiosity and fascination as she continued to assess Mark.
{What am I talking about? You wouldn't even understand me.} Lilith said, leaning back and examining Mark's face. She playfully caressed his lips, her nails teasingly digging in. She entertained the notion of bleeding his lips before a kiss.
However, Mark, frowning at the thick smell of blood, took her hand, interrupting her. He transformed into his vampire form, shark-like grin and black eyes, responding in the vampire language, "{Oh, who said I can't. We could chat a bit before we resort to biting, what do you say?}"
Lilith was both surprised and intrigued by Mark's sudden change. Attempting to pull her hand back, she found herself unable to escape Mark's grasp. He continued grinning.
With a raised eyebrow, Lilith inquired, "{What do you have in mind?}"
Mark, still smiling, turned her around, pressing her back against him and locking her arms in a hug. His head leaned towards the side of her neck, sharp teeth trailing it. "{I just want to tell you that I killed Marlow and all of his male followers. Hope you don't mind.}"
Lilith's expression turned serious. After a moment, she felt him kiss her neck before he released her. Perfectly composed, she retrieved her black dress with long sleeves and a V-neck that extended from the shoulders to the cleavage, calmly slipping into it. Throughout this process, she remained unruffled, unaffected by Mark's lingering gaze.
After dressing, she asked, "{What are you here for then? Do you want to replace him? Or perhaps replace me?}"
"Not really. What I really want is you." Mark returned to his human form, said with a smirk as he pulled Lilith towards him. He then settled into a fancy-looking chair, inviting her to sit on his lap.
Lilith, though surprised, gracefully allowed herself to be seated, facing him. Their eyes locked in a silent exchange. Mark, with a confident grin, spoke in a low tone, "{So, what's your deal, Lilith? What's the story behind the queen of vampires?}"
Intrigued by Mark's directness, Lilith leaned in, her curiosity evident. "{Why don't you tell me your story first? Start with how you turn yourself back into a human and a vampire.}" As his hand playfully caressed her legs, he teasingly responded.
"You want it?" He opened her lips with his index finger, trailing her sharp teeth. Lilith just waited. With a soft prick, a drop of blood bubbled up. Smelling the blood, Lilith's eyes dilated. She instinctively tasted it.
Soon after, she convulsed in pain, hissing loudly. Mark assisted her, holding her so she wouldn't drop down from his lap. Removing the negatives from her physiology seemed to be as painful as it was transformative. She continued wailing for a while, creating a commotion outside as her followers wanted to go in, but Mark's minions kept them at bay.
As Mark carefully seated Lilith, the culmination of her transformation unfolded. '{I'm alright. Leave.}' she commanded her followers outside. Turning her attention to her reflection in the mirror, Lilith examined her changed features. The deathly paleness had vanished, replaced by a rosy hue. Sensing warmth coursing through her, she felt truly alive. Curiosity led her to open her mouth wide, observing her altered appearance. The shark-like fangs disappeared, drawing a frown on Lilith's face, but with concentration, they regained their sharpness. Mark, embracing her from behind, inquired, "How do you feel?"
Lilith turned to face Mark, a mixture of surprise and contemplation in her eyes. '{It's... different.}' She ran her fingers over her skin, still adjusting to the newfound warmth. She placed her hand on the top of her heart, feeling it beat. '{Alive, in a way I haven't felt for centuries.}' Seizing Mark's hand within his embrace, Lilith sank her teeth into it, observing the blood flow before witnessing the instant healing.
Savoring the taste, she left Mark in a state of perplexity as she sauntered toward her private room. At the door, a seductive smile graced her lips as she cast a glance back at him over her shoulder. With deliberate slowness, her dress slid down, unveiling her naked form before she disappeared inside.
Drawn by temptation, Mark eagerly trailed after the alluring vampire queen. The door closed with a definitive click, sealing their privacy in the intimate space.
A few hours later, Lilith guides Mark into her personal vault. While they walk, Mark can't help but smile at the way Lilith walks, her hands delicately cradle the sides of her dress, ensuring it doesn't graze the floor. She notices his admiration and gives him a soft smile.
Inside the vault, soft ambient lighting dances upon stacks of silver and gold coins, as well as jewelry in crates, casting a warm and otherworldly glow. The air is thick with the scent of ancient parchment and a subtle hint of aged blood.
Along the walls are meticulously crafted medieval armors, each piece a testament to a bygone era, engraved with intricate symbols and sigils.
Mark then finds himself drawn to an array of swords and daggers. Among them, a longsword piques his interest, its hilt a masterpiece adorned with a red gem in the middle of the pommel that seems to pulse with a life of its own. As he runs his fingers along the cold, razor-sharp blade, he decides that he'll have it as his melee weapon.
Testing its balance with a few swings, he finds it perfectly weighted. Mark then stores the longsword along with a nice double-edged dagger and a small sack of silver and gold coins. Grateful, he gives Lilith a kiss as a token of thanks.
As Mark is leaving with Lilith outside, he hears a whimper of pain from one of the rooms. Curious, he opens it to find the vampires' feeding station. Inside, a few bodies on the verge of death are tied and suspended, their feeble moans barely audible as their blood trickles into a container.
Frowning at the disturbing sight, Mark moves in to intervene, kicking an old vampire gleefully harassing a young woman while she bleeds. The vampire snarls and attacks, but fueled by anger, Mark decapitates him with a swing of his new sword. Turning to Lilith, who seems unperturbed, He asks her about the place.
"You've got plenty of wealth, right? Why resort to this?" Mark gestured toward the pitiful figures suspended in the feeding station.
{They crave the hunt. It's in their instincts. If they stop, they'll go feral, making it harder for them to think normally.} Lilith explained, her hands resting regally on her navel. Upon reflection, she realized that whatever Mark's blood had done to her, it had also eradicated the perpetual bloodlust she always had.
Mark, wearing a thoughtful expression, considered his minions. Noticing they didn't share the same issue, he attributed it to the tattoo he marked them with. "Why don't you consider establishing a prison for your pets? You're wealthy enough. Have the prisoners be their targets instead of innocent people. It's unsettling, especially when there are murderers, rapists, and arsonists who already have blood on their hands." He suggested.
"Why the concern for the cattle? Just think of it like humans butchering animals for food. It's the same thing." Lilith remarked with a tilted head. Mark couldn't help but think, 'Shit, I'm not good with these kinds of discussions.'
"I may have enhanced strength and unique abilities, but I'm still human. I just don't appreciate how you treat those poor souls. It's grating on my conscience," he said, his gaze steady and serious. Suddenly, a sly grin crosses his face. "Encountering this kind of thing again? I won't be able to control myself—I might end up taking down some of your followers."
Lilith pursed her lips in annoyance, gazing straight at him. They remained in silence for a while. Then, with a sigh, she spoke, "{Fine. I'll instruct them.}" Her eyes flickered to the captives. "{It's your problem now.}" She said as she started to slowly leave the place. Mark watched her go, dumbfounded. He scratched his head, glancing back at the dying captives.
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