Zara looked at Lilith, her voice trembling mid-sentence.
"W-What do you mean just changing? Y-You know you can't just undress in front of me!"
Lilith blinked, then a spark of realization crossed her face.
"Ohhh… now I remember. You humans don't change clothes in front of each other, huh?"
Zara quickly shook her head, clearly flustered."N-No, we don't! And wait—are you saying vampires do?!"
With a mischievous smirk, Lilith leaned in close to her ear, her voice low and teasing.
"Only if you want me to."
Zara's face turned crimson, and her eyes unintentionally flicked to the open part of Lilith's shirt—catching a glimpse she absolutely didn't mean to see.
Seeing her expression, Lilith chuckled and slowly began buttoning up again."No, no, we don't actually change in front of others… I was just improving your mood. See ya."
With a wave of her hand, she turned and began walking toward the door, leaving Zara completely flushed and stunned in silence.
Zara exhaled, relieved that the teasing whirlwind had finally left.
But just as Lilith reached the door, she suddenly stopped. Her brows furrowed, and she turned her head slightly, as if sensing something.
Zara felt her body stiffen. Her heart pounded—and then her vision slowly began to tint red. A strange heat coursed through her veins. Her breath grew heavier… and her fangs extended.
Lilith glanced back, putting a hand over her mouth with a mock-gasp.
"Oops… I guess she can't control her bloodlust yet."
Zara's body began to tremble. Her throat burned—parched like a desert—and an overwhelming thirst clawed at her insides, demanding something. It wasn't water. It was thicker. Warmer. Alive.
She looked around, but everything was shrouded in a red mist. Her vision had shifted. Her mind was slipping.
And then… her eyes locked onto Lilith.
Her body was glowing—no, bleeding—a deep crimson aura, as if every vein in her body pulsed with liquid temptation.
Without thinking, Zara lunged forward like a beast unchained.
Just before she could reach, Lilith casually lifted one hand and grabbed her by the forehead, holding her back with ease.
"Tsk tsk. No, beauty," Lilith said, shaking her finger with a smirk. "You can't drink my blood. I've still not had any human blood today myself. Aishh… what a mess."
Zara thrashed against her grip, arms flailing, her fangs bared as she tried to latch onto Lilith's neck.
"Agghhhhhh! Ghhhrrrrrr!"
Lilith sighed dramatically.
"Nope. Still a no. In this realm, only lovers are allowed to share blood, remember? And we're not there yet, sweetheart."
She winked, completely unfazed by the wild vampire trying to bite her arm off.
"Oh? On second thought…" Lilith muttered, still effortlessly holding Zara back by the forehead with one hand. "I do have something."
With Zara still growling and flailing, Lilith casually strolled toward the cupboard—completely unfazed.
She opened it, humming to herself as she sifted through bottles and strange containers.
"Ah, here it is~"
She pulled out a sealed blood bag, holding it up like a prize. Rich, red liquid sloshed inside.
Turning back, she walked to Zara and, without warning, pressed the bag to her lips.
The moment the blood touched her tongue, Zara froze. The wild hunger in her mind was drowned beneath a flood of warmth and sweetness. It was like drinking the richest, most intoxicating nectar she'd ever tasted.
Her tense body relaxed. Her vision, once coated in crimson mist, gradually returned to normal.
As the blood bag emptied, she finally regained her senses—only to glance down and see her hands… stained in blood.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Pale-faced, she instinctively tried to cover her mouth—only to realize her bloodied hand would make it worse. She froze, staring at the mess she had made.
Lilith tilted her head with a teasing smile.
"Well, beauty, how does your first drink feel?"
"D-D-Did I… just drink blood?" Zara stammered, staring at her stained hands.
Lilith chuckled lightly."Yep. Bloodlusted vampires can only drink blood when the thirst hits. That's how it works, sweetheart."
Zara's face twisted in disgust.
Seeing her reaction, Lilith gave a small shrug."Well, if you don't want to go through that again, then you'd better train and learn to control your bloodlust. Vampires have way more potential than humans when it comes to physical strength… but you'll only unlock it with discipline."
With a wink and a flip of her hair, Lilith turned on her heel and walked off, leaving Zara frozen—still staring at her hands, her thoughts spiraling.
"T-Train… huh…"
Later that night, after a long shower, Zara collapsed onto the bed. The warmth of the blood still lingered on her tongue.
I don't want to drink blood again…But… it was so delicious.
Her crimson eyes flickered faintly, then dimmed back to normal. She sat up slightly, hugging her knees, and looked around the empty room.
In a soft voice, she whispered, "Fluff… are you here? Fluff?"
But no one appeared.
Her eyes glistened with quiet sadness.
[The Next Day]
Lilith strolled through the hallway, humming a lazy tune to herself.
"Hm hm hmmm~"
Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, her gaze drawn to the courtyard below.
There, in the soft morning light, a lone figure stood—swinging a massive sword again and again, striking at the rocks with relentless determination.
Zara.
Lilith leaned on the railing, resting her chin on her hand. Her usual playful glint shifted into something deeper… sharper.
Well, well, she thought, lips curving into a quiet smile. Maybe the little beauty has some fight in her after all.