Aunt Catherine!"

"My little girl, I'm glad to meet you!"

I rushed down the stairs and hugged her. She gave me a hug in return, then stepped back and looked at me with a serious look and smiling eyes.

"Ah, how good you look!" Bigger and we'll have to trim it for you. ”

"It's not funny!" I replied with a smile. "I'm thirteen years old, and when I'm twenty, all of you will have to look up to me!" I'm even going to beat Daddy!"

"Dispel this thought!" Her answer. "Your appetite will bankrupt us all."

We laughed for a moment until her expression turned serious. I was very embarrassed because I was now convinced of the reason why she came, especially since she left my cousin at home.

"We need a goddaughter to talk to, a goddaughter who needs privacy. Shall we go back to your room?"

"Good."

I wanted to pout in protest, but I'm a woman now and need to show patience and restraint. I led her upstairs to my room and claimed the bed while she sat in the chair.

"I wish Diana could see you now, she would be proud."

I immediately felt sad.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I didn't mean to make you sad."

"It's okay, we miss her so much."

"Yes, it's worse. How I regret it, what I have to do ......"

"Dear aunt, you're exaggerating. I know it's a bit delicate to discuss women's issues......"

"It's not that, it's this."

Her hand grabbed me by the throat and pushed me onto the mattress. I can't breathe! I struggled, but she was much stronger than me.

My sharp nails pierced her arm, but it didn't work. Red tears of remorse were left on her cheeks, and her mouth was wide open, revealing jagged fangs.

Oh my God! I panicked even more, but darkness had crept up on my sight.

"I'm sorry, Chim

IE, this is the only way!" Otherwise he will take your soul! I'm sorry, dear. Sorry......"

I became crazier in my struggles. Her fingers poked into my skin and drew blood until my blood pressure was too high. The pain became unbearable, and with a terrible popping sound, my cervical vertebrae shattered.

Something is wrong. I... What... Who? I can't think normally, everything seems to be inflated and blurred. I would love to stay there and wait, but I knew something wasn't right.

It smells like fire.

The thought of fire scared me, and an instinctive strong reaction forced me to stand up.

I...

I don't know what to do.

No, notice, this has happened before.

"I ...... Call...... Ariana ...... I...... It's me...... Own ......"

Slowly, painfully, my mind was stitched back together, worn away at the edges. Holding my mind together was like holding sand, and I knew I needed something. I need it badly.

Hunger and thirst hit me like stones.

I bent forward and grabbed my stomach. Oh my God, it hurts, I need it. I need it. I need it.

I need it!

I'm going to find my master.

He promised......

Then we left this abandoned place together.

Yes.

But first I had to find him right away.

I pulled myself together, walked to the door, and cautiously opened it. The smell hit me first.

。 Gunpowder. Blood. Excreta.

The hallway was empty, save for two motionless figures. The first is a servant in a maid's suit. Her hands clenched a deep wound in her chest. They were painted red, and she looked like she was wearing scarlet gloves. She also died. Tears flowed down her half-closed eyes.

The other is a man in a black fur coat. His clothes were military, but not uniforms I recognized. I saw that he had no wounds on his body, but he was lying in a pool of his own blood and was also dead.

I didn't feel anything.

I was screaming deep inside, this was not right, I had seen corpses before, but never like this.

I don't care.

The man had a gun in his hand, a well-made pistol with silver embroidered on it. I took a closer look and it was discharged. A basic examination found silver bullets and a powder horn, which I took away. I reloaded and pulled the trigger.

The woman suffered a gunshot wound.

The people who attacked here didn't care about unarmed women at all. Instead of even mercifully taking pity on her, they chose to put her through brutal torture before taking her last breath. I wouldn't have the same fate. I didn't come this far to fall into the clutches of some barbarian.

I'm going to escape this building. The smell of fire unssures me. I didn't dare to find Ximena, because if I knew this woman, if she was still alive, she would be in the center of the battle.

Luckily, I know where to go. We are in one of the wings of the fortress, and the exit should be on the "ground" level of the wing, very close to the entrance to the dungeon.

I'm pretty sure there must be ways to hide them, given the strange tastes of the builders, but I don't want to look for them. I'd rather risk being blocked.

Hunger and thirst killed me.

I walked down the next floor with all my patience and stopped when something special hit me. It was the floor I slept on for the first time and the door to my first room was broken. Only the door to the other room was forced open.

Are they hunting the inhabitants? If so, how do they know where I am?

I reached the ground and slowed down. If the mysterious attackers were still nearby, I would find them here. As I finished the idea, there were a few footsteps in the nearby hallway, and I heard the sound of tail = special.

“…… Incompetent, I will never agree!" How many people do you need ......"

With a sigh of relief, I stepped out of an alcove and saw Ogedai appear, and I carefully hid my pistol behind my back in case he acted too nervous. A hoarse voice retorted, but I barely noticed until two of his companions walked into my field of vision.

Both of them looked strong. The older one had deep claw marks on one side of his face, and his dark eyes were barely visible. The second is much younger, red-haired and sharp-looking.

Both are dressed in the invaders' black coats, carrying weapons large enough to start a skirmish, as well as inexplicably silver crosses.

We froze at each other's sights.

I understood right away.

Traitor.

I turned to run, and so did Okodai.

There's no way I'm going to be there in time.

This is good. A part of my existence that I didn't recognize surfaced. I barely had enough energy to command it, but it was enough.

I'll move too.

Just as the blade of his knife kissed my neck, I raised my gun and pulled the trigger.

Close up. Children don't miss a beat.

Wotai was surprised at the sight of the muzzle, and I saw that his mouth instantly formed an "O" shape before it was blown away.

I'm not done yet.

The two men immediately drew their guns and were shooting.

I grabbed the body of the Wotai and used it as a shield. As I rushed forward, two dull impacts made his chest tremble. I barely thought about what occupied my mind and I let it develop. I will live.

I will live.

So they must die.

Wotai's body flew through the air towards the old man who was trying to hide to the side. Pointless effort. The warrior's body is too big, and the corridor is too tight. He snorted and fell to the ground.

So thirsty.

I screamed and rushed at the red-haired man until a silver flash made me dodge. Something flew over my shoulder. The tightness of the hallway was now working against me, and I moved to avoid the other.

My enemies had anticipated it, and a third thing stabbed into my arm with a piercing pain. A knife! I hissed and could barely stand it. He's close, close!

Something glowed white, and I was pushed backwards by an unstoppable force. I was slapped and bounced on the floor like an insect. No! No, it can't be. I'm so thirsty. I need it.

I need it!

I managed to stagger to my feet in time and found that the young man had pulled another pistol out of the groove of his vest and aimed it at me.

When he fired, I threw my own gun out. When he fired, the bullet hit him in the shoulder, opening a large hole in the wall next to me. I wanted to get closer, but I couldn't! What to do!

Oh. Of course.

I rushed forward again, and the man pulled out a small pistol from another pocket. How many are there? This time he calmly waited for me to get closer.

When I was just a few feet away from him, I pulled the knife out of my arm and threw it at him. I don't care about pain. I only care about the salvation he gives me.

My clumsy throw caused the plane of the blade to hit his nose, interrupting his concentration. When he retreated from his pain. I managed to get around him. I grabbed him by the neck with two fingers and pushed him down. At the same time, I pulled one of his arms back and bit it.

Ah, yes!

Or not.

That's a far cry from what I used to eat! It simply doesn't work! I can't accept it. It has almost no dull edges. I need more. I need him.

I want him to give it to me!

I... What? Everything doesn't make sense anymore!

Someone giggled like a madwoman.

I.

I stood up and grabbed a dagger. Ignoring everything else, I followed my nose to breathe in the fresh air I felt. The air was polluted with smoke, but it was the way out. I know.

I will live.

In a trance, I left the three corpses, walked past the corpses of servants and soldiers, and a pile of inexplicable ashes, and came to the scene of the battlefield.

A dilapidated barricade was less than ten meters away from a half-collapsed wall. I counted a dozen bodies scattered on both sides, including some women and a variety of weapons.

It looks like the intruders rushed in, leaving no one behind. As I passed the barricades, the reason for their anger was right in front of me.

The entrance to the flank of the fortress was blown open, but the walls partially collapsed, forming a chokepoint, and the bodies of the invaders were scattered on the ground.

Even in my groggy state, I was shocked by the extent of the devastation I witnessed. What kind of fanatic would throw away his life like this? What justification is there for such determination, or such hatred?

I walked through the door and found traces of blood. Recent. Someone dragged the wounded out.

So thirsty.

I staggered forward and found myself in a cathedral-sized hall. The walls are natural. What kind of cave is this?

The other door was facing me. The cave is on my left, but the wind is coming from my right. I went in that direction.

The place was empty except for the dead. A few oil lamps can provide enough light for a person to see clearly.

The hall was empty, and its only purpose seemed to be to instill a sense of majesty or fear. I do not know.

I quickly came to a huge flight of stairs from which two people came down. I didn't hear it at all!

The first was a bearded blonde man, with pale gray eyes, and a blue coat that frowned at the sight of me. The second question made me gasp in surprise.

I have met many slaves and freedmen from Haiti or the African continent. In front of many white people, they always have something.

Sometimes it's fear, sometimes it's respect, and more often it's contempt, but they all have one thing in common, and that's that they never let their guard down.

Not this person.

He was dressed in beige leather, visibly armed, and had a sarcastic smirk on his face, indicating that he was not afraid of anyone.

The bar owner and my father, who was also the tallest person I've ever met.

The two newcomers were followed by a pair of brown-haired twin males and a black female.

They all exuded the same coldness, which I now considered torture, and the first two were on par with Lady Moore and Master Seren.

I'm going up.

I need to break through.

No. They are stronger, and I can't leave.

The blonde man walked towards me, and before I could react, he ran faster than me, and my vision suddenly turned white.

"Ahh

One moment I was looking forward, and the next I was being crushed against my stomach by five sharp things. The pain was unbearable, and my mind finally collapsed.

This is too much.

I stayed there, motionless. I don't need to struggle. I don't need to breathe. Moving only means more pain. It's best to stay and wait. Concentrate on fighting the fog. This is my last bit of awareness. If I let it go, it's all over. I know it from the bottom of my heart.

As I slowly moved in and out, I could hear snippets of their conversation.

“…… Clearly!" Someone betrayed us, and we knew it couldn't be a cow!"

“…… Babbling idiots. She's only been with us for four days, and this raid has been in the works for weeks. ”

“…… Can't trust his descendants!" I know it's a mistake......"

"Bring her back, otherwise we will never know. She's full, and she's still degrading; She's gone too far. ”

Either way, we're on the rise. We arrived at another magnificent entrance, this one is wooden. We walked through the charred shell of a building. We walked through a garden. We were outside.

Finally, something woke me from my slumber, and I let out a faint thud.

It's him! My salvation!

His presence alone stitched me even tighter. Enough to keep track of what is happening.

The blonde man pushed me to the ground. I curled up in a ball. I struggled with pain. I can't do anything.

I will live.

Give me a few more minutes, and Master will save me. Wait a little longer......

"Coming back so soon?"

"Don't be cowardly, Lord Nelari, I know your plan!"

"I doubt that little Gaspard, you can't even count your fingers."

"You! So you admit that you did it?!"

"What is it?"

"Attack on us!" We were attacked less than a week after you came here?! You think I'm going to believe it's a coincidence?!"

"It could also be because of the long-awaited secret meeting. Gaspard, I would have liked to explain to you Occam's razor and confirmation bias, but I had no patience and no pen. ”

"Oh!"

"That's enough, Master Gaspard. If we want to know more, just ask the young lady. Lord Ni

a

i ?”

"I'll admit I'm curious too."

Master grabbed me by the neck. I don't need to see him to know. His touch made my body slack. Even the pain and craving will subside.

I found myself looking at his face.

Ah, those handsome countenances! The presence of the king! His noble beard! His eight teeth.

"Ariane".

Oh, my name is on his lips! I'm finished. I found myself smiling like an ignorant girl. I love him so much!

"Answer me."

When my body was completely relaxed, the world faded away. The world faded away, and at the same time, I regained complete clarity.

I've never been more focused since I woke up in this dark cell.

"What did I ask of you when we first met?"

"Do not speak unless I tell you to speak, call you master, behave modestly, and listen to Ximena in everything."

"Did you speak without permission?"

"No, master."

"Did you call me anything other than Master?"

"No, master."

"Have you listened to Shimena in everything?"

"Yes, master."

"Are you following the rules?"

"I ...... I guess so?" Yes, master. ”

"We'll see. Lady Iken, if you have any questions, just ask, and I'll pass them on to her. ”

His attention turned to someone else. No! Look at me! He turned to me. Yes!

"When did you wake up?"

"I don't know, about fifteen minutes ago, right?"

"That's at sunset. Do you know about the attack on our fortress?"

"Yes."

"Have you helped the attackers in any way at any time?"

“No.”

There was some commotion outside, and after a while, he asked me again.

"Gaspard Jr. thinks we've been betrayed. What do you think, little one?"

"I agree."

Another commotion. Master looked pleasantly surprised.

"Oh? Why do you think that?"

"I saw Wotai walking with the two invaders. They were talking. ”

This time there was quite a commotion.

"Tell us about it."

When I told my master about the encounter, his smile grew brighter and more vicious until he laughed. That ominous sound made my stomach pound.

"Ah, young Ariana, you have brought me something I did not expect in this abandoned corner: entertainment. Jimena, how is my child doing?"

A pause.

"Well, I declare that you have kept your word. I was pleasantly surprised by this result! Not every decade there is anyone who makes me so happy. As I said, you can absorb the essence of me. May everything be as you wish. ”

He slowly dragged me to the crook of his neck. I didn't understand what he wanted until he pressed my mouth against his soft skin. I instinctively opened my mouth and he let me touch him.

I felt a sticky syrup run through my open lips.

Time stops.

Even if one day I forget my name, even if I live for a thousand years, even if I lose the last shred of sanity, I will never forget the moment when I tasted this essence.

I will continue to live and bless my experiences and curse my knowledge, nothing compares to it.

I was speechless.

I died a thousand times with joy. The tide of pain and happiness burned in me again and again, both for a moment and for eternity, and I followed it helplessly.

After a while, visions like fleeting dreams appeared before my eyes.

I sat in a chariot drawn by two horses. I let out an arrow, and it flew so fast that it went straight into a person's throat. My first kill, and many more.

A foreign princess fell before me, her brother's blood still on her clothes. I said a few words. With tears of humiliation on her face, she unbuttoned her robe. It fell smoothly from her golden shoulders. I stood up.

An old woman sits in the center of a complex garden. Her beauty and wisdom are legendary. She was writing an intricate incantation on a piece of tanned human skin. When she heard me speak, she looked up and smiled.

I was lying on a bed covered in blood and sweat. My hand grabbed the hole in my stomach. The stench is disgusting. It was still the same woman, leaning against me with a sad smile. She gently brushed my hair back. Her other hand brought a vial of black liquid to my lips, and I swallowed it.

I gasped and pulled away, and then the burning force made me burn from within. My worn mind was reforged at its sharpest and coldest. This force passed through me and invaded every one of my organs. I sucked it like a thirsty woman.

I remember.

My name is Ariana Lucille Beatrice Renault. I have a father and an older brother. Family, friends, hopes and dreams. My best friend and I came to New Orleans for a short stay. I was going to chat with an acquaintance at the ball, and I met Master here. He......

No.

No.

No, no, no, no

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"What have you done to me, you! You!"

The monster laughed, and he was full of joy! No! It can't be, it's a nightmare! No. I refuse......

No. This is......

"What did you do?" What am I? Why?"

"So angry, little one, do you hate me?" What about you?"

How can I hate him when I love him so much, I hate him so much, love him so much and .....

"No, the master ......"

"None? So are you happy?"

“HAAAAAGH”

"Tears? How precious! No? Isn't that what you want?"

"What! How dare you! You violated me, killed me, and turned me like this!"

His hand slid from my neck to my throat.

"Ugh!!"

"Tsk, I don't want to hear you, little one. I've done so much for you. ”

He smiled calmly.

"You are so lovely, a little country girl, who dares to approach me as if we were equal. You even greeted me first and introduced yourself without inhibitions. Because of your arrogance, I wanted to tear you to shreds, but you started talking.

So many projects, so many dreams. This drive, this passion, I am very moved. You remind me of a guy I knew a long time ago. Like you, she went above and beyond her status, however, she succeeded. Her deeds inspired the entire civilization. You're a lot like her. You want it all, you even want me! You asked me if I was married. So arrogant, so arrogant. I have to stay the course.

So here you are, little one, like me, a vampire. Shaken off the shackles of this corner where there is almost no civilization. You can live forever. Time will not wither your beauty, nor will it dull your intelligence. You can get everything, you can even get me. Let me see how strong you are, little Ariane. Tell me that I didn't waste my blood and seeds on another failure. ”

"You can't escape, ah......!"

"God? Do you want to say God? We only have one God left. Examine. ”

Despite my best efforts, I looked up at the sky.

So beautiful.

A canopy of light and darkness. On the canvas, a certain divine artist projects light and dark colors in some unfathomable pattern. I never knew the sky would be so stunning, and if it weren't for a new celestial body appearing, I would have gazed in amazement.

Distorted clouds and terrifying purple rhizomes embedded with a black sclera eye and a cracked red pupil. It's absolutely huge. It's even smaller than the moon.

The sky has a huge eye. Devil's cat's eye with a purple crown.

I stared, speechless.

It stared at me.

I wanted to close my eyes, but I couldn't because Master told me to look. My mind was filled with fear. It is alive. I felt presence.

"Welcome to your journey of black and red, little one," said Master, "may all things be fulfilled." ”