In my room, I stood silently by the arched window, flipping a silver coin between my fingers. The view outside was peaceful—too peaceful—while inside, my mind stirred with dark calculations.
Kane's report still lingers...
"A large-scale disappearance across my territory," I murmured. "Not just one or two villagers...."
I narrowed my eyes, the coin now dancing across my knuckles. "This isn't random. This is deliberate. One or two culprits couldn't move that swiftly over such a large region."
I spoke to myself like a strategist unraveling a battlefield. "This feels... organized. Coordinated. A group effort."
My lips pressed into a thin line. "A syndicate?"
If it were humans, then slavers were the obvious suspects. But slave traders typically targeted small villages, one at a time—careful, methodical. These disappearances were too wide-spread. Too sudden.
"Unless they weren't capturing for labor... but for harvest," I whispered, the word hanging in the air like a dark omen.
A grim realization crept through my spine.
I turned on my heels and left my room with purpose, heading straight to my private office.
Kane was still there, eyes deep in parchment and ink.
"Kane," I said, voice sharp with clarity, "this isn't the work of ordinary criminals. It's a vampire syndicate. They're harvesting blood—probably bottling it and selling it to nobles who are vampires."
He looked up, eyes wide. "Are you certain, my lady?"
"This is the most plausible theory. Everything points to it."
His brows furrowed. "Then… what will you do?"
"If any of these nobles are buying harvested blood, I need to enter their circles. I must attend one of their gatherings." I said,
Kane leaned forward, voice low with concern. "You realize, walking into their gathering would be like stepping into a lion's den."
"I've been in worse places," I said with a calm smile. "Don't worry. I have a plan."
---
Later that evening, under the silver glow of the moon, I sat on a cushioned chair upon my mansion's open-air balcony. The stars above sparkled like distant whispers of fate.
Beside me sat Liza and Emilia, both in elegant night robes, calm and expectant. Tania stood a few steps behind, hands folded, eyes alert.
A silver goblet sat in my hands—filled with crimson red wine laced with a few drops of my own blood.
We were waiting for Gaim.
Moments passed until the tall, lean figure of Gaim appeared. His posture was sharp, his face stoic as always, though his eyes flickered with curiosity beneath the moonlight.
"Gaim," I began, locking eyes with him, "when you became my personal guard, you pledged loyalty to me. Is that oath still true?"
"Yes, my lady," he said firmly.
"I need you for something greater now," I said, rising from my seat. "There is a vampire network threatening this land. I need your strength to fight them."
Gaim's expression hardened. "I want to help you my lady... but as a human, my strength cannot match their's."
"I can change that, I can give you strength strong enough to fight them." I whispered.
He looked up, stunned.
"I can turn you into a daywalker vampire. You'll gain their strength—but none of their corruption. You'll remain yourself. Your soul intact."
He hesitated. I saw the storm of doubt behind his eyes.
So I stepped closer.
I took his hand... and gently placed one on my chest, the other on the curve of my hip.
His expression faltered.
His body responded. His rod stirred beneath his trousers.
"Will you do it for me?" I whispered, eyes half-lidded, voice a sensual melody. "For your lady?"
Still unsure, but crumbling fast.
Then, my fingers brushed the source of his tension. His rod.
"If you agree, I will reward you with my body," I said softly, seductively.
That did it.
His breath hitched. "Y-yes! I'll do it, my lady!" he blurted, nearly shouting. "Please... I'll serve you in every way!"
I smiled, turning to lift the goblet from the table. "Then drink."
He took it with trembling hands and downed it all in one breath.
The transformation began almost immediately.
His body convulsed. He fell to his knees, trembling. Veins darkened. Eyes rolled back. He cried out in pain before collapsing onto the floor.
We all stood alert.
Then—suddenly—Gaim rose.
His breath ragged. Fangs bared. Eyes bloodshot.
Liza and Emilia prepared to restrain him.
But he raised his hand. "No need... I can control it."
He lunged—not at us—but for the bottle of animal blood wine nearby. Snatching it, he chugged it like a man possessed.
Moments passed. The glow in his eyes softened. His breathing steadied. His fangs receded—but still slightly longer than before.
He stood tall, unshaken, like a new man.
"I'm ready," he said. "But now... you must fulfill your promise."
I blinked. "Don't you need to rest?"
"No," he said, smirking. "I feel better than ever. Stronger. And my rod is very much awake."
I chuckled, walking forward. "Very well. Let's go to my room."
I turned to Liza and Emilia. "Come too."
Without shame, I took Gaim by the hand, and the four of us disappeared into the corridor, moonlight trailing behind us like a blessing.