Lucy stayed silent as she followed me into the bedroom. I moved off to the side near the doorway, unable to bring myself any closer to the bed. I came in here every day to care for Mom, but that didn't make seeing her like this any less painful.
"My god… this is awful. No one deserves this," Lucy whispered, her voice barely audible.
I quickly covered my mouth, holding back another wave of tears. Turning my face away from her, I tried to steady myself.
"Blood Cure."
At the sound of her voice, I looked back just in time to see something impossible.
Crimson roots spread from Lucy's outstretched hand, twisting through the air before wrapping completely around my mother's body. The moment the cocoon sealed shut, it erupted with blinding red light so intense I had to shield my eyes.
When the glow finally faded, I looked back toward the bed.
Mom looked… alive again.
She was still thin, but the sickly hollowness in her face was gone. Color had returned to her skin, and for the first time in months, she looked peaceful instead of dying.
I turned toward Lucy in disbelief. She glanced back at me, and that was all it took for the emotions I'd been suppressing to completely break free.
Throwing myself into her arms, I clung to her tightly as tears streamed down my face.
"Thank you… thank you… thank you…" I sobbed between shaky breaths.
I stayed like that for what felt like forever, buried against her chest while she gently stroked my hair.
"She should wake up in a few hours," Lucy said softly. "Healing that quickly takes a lot out of the body. She'll need time to regain her strength."
I nodded against her shoulder, refusing to let go.
After a few quiet minutes, I felt Lucy suddenly tense.
Pulling back slightly, I looked up at her and froze.
Her crimson eyes were glowing again.
The moment our gazes met, she stumbled backward, clutching at her throat.
"It's happening again… the thirst is coming back stronger this time…"
So it really had happened before. She truly drank blood.
"I did say I would help," I mumbled, trying to ignore the heat rushing into my face. "So you can… do what you did before."
"No." She shook her head immediately. "I don't want to hurt you again. It's bad enough that I did it once without your permission."
"If you don't, then what are you going to do?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe hunt monsters nearby…" she replied before swallowing hard.
'Glup.'
I sighed, pointing toward her mouth where her fangs were already beginning to extend.
"I hate to break it to you, but there aren't any monsters close to the village. And honestly… I can see you getting worse."
Her eyes locked onto my neck.
I could hear her breathing growing heavier by the second, see the flush spreading across her pale cheeks. Just as I opened my mouth to speak again, she vanished.
One second she was across the room.
The next, she was directly in front of me.
I barely had time to gasp before she grabbed me. The world blurred into streaks of color, and when my vision refocused, I realized I was lying on the bed in the guest house with Lucy hovering above me.
Her glowing crimson eyes stared down into mine.
Looking up at her in that moment, only one thought filled my head.
I trusted her completely.
Slowly, I raised my arms toward her and parted my legs slightly, giving her room between them.
"Come here," I whispered.
Lucy's eyes widened faintly before she carefully climbed on top of me. Her cool body pressed against mine as her hands slowly slid up my sides before wrapping around my back, pulling me closer.
Our faces hovered inches apart.
Without breaking eye contact, I tilted my head to the side, exposing my neck to her.
Lucy's gaze flickered to the exposed skin before she leaned down. I felt the soft brush of her fangs against my throat… then the gentle sting as they pierced my skin.
"Ah—!"
A moan escaped me instantly.
This felt completely different from before.
Last time had been overwhelming, desperate, almost feral. But now…
Now she was gentle.
Instead of crashing over me all at once, the pleasure spread slowly through my body like warm water, sinking deeper with every second.
"Ah… mm…"
More soft sounds slipped from my lips as I clung to her shoulders.
Then she swallowed.
'Gulp.'
"Ahh—!"
My body trembled violently.
Gods… that was only the beginning?
Unlike before, she wasn't greedily taking from me. She drank slowly, savoring every moment. Her grip loosened slightly as her hands slid beneath my shirt, fingertips gliding along my bare back.
The touch sent heat flooding through my entire body.
"Hnn…"
A low moan escaped me as my hips instinctively rolled against hers.
Every inch of me burned.
I needed her closer.
As though sensing my thoughts, Lucy pressed her fangs deeper into my neck before taking another slow drink.
Pleasure exploded through me.
My back arched sharply off the bed as my legs shook uncontrollably.
"AHH—!"
The cry tore from my throat just as darkness overtook my vision, and everything faded away.