"Alya… How are you now?" I rushed up to her and grabbed her by both shoulders.
Her pale skin and bright red eyes glowed under the dim lantern's light as she dazedly stared at me. She looked like a ghost. A really hot one with those curves…
She didn't say anything, just kept staring at me, then all of a sudden, pulled me in a hug, squeezing everything closer to her skin, her warmth.
I honestly felt a bit awkward in front of Vanitas, who looked like an owl staring at us with intrigue, his obsidian eyes blending in the dark. I don't know how those couple acted like that in my previous world…
But, strengthening my heart, I returned the warmth, hugging her back, and patting her soft white hair gently. I could feel the intense desires… of love, obsessive love as she snuggled closer to me, her tongue slipping on my neck, drooling all over.
She wanted to bite me. I felt the same way, by the way.
But no can do. That's like having sex in front of someone. She realised it too, that's why her fangs were still short.
At least, all her deadly wounds were perfectly healed. I imagine she is physically better, too; jumping down from that ceiling fifteen feet should require that. She could walk now most definietly.
Having two strong people I can trust, …And that Samurai for backup. It's better. Way better! My chest rose.
"Luci… It's weird." Alya's meek voice caught my attention, her face still glued to my neck. (She was also taller than six feet.)
What's wrong now? My frown returned.
"I feel perfectly healthy… I am back to my prime." She said with a worriedly serious face.
Isn't that good news?
"I shouldn't be. It's just been less than an hour. Losing blood also slows down healing considerably. To get back to this state…. I require more than three days normally!" She said with a shaky breath.
"That is… weird." I rubbed my chin. But what was weirder was the fear on her face. Like it wasn't a miraculous good thing, but a very bad thing.
Vanitas's ears perked up as he closed the distance, catching Alya's eyes, who studied him for a while before nodding lightly in a greeting, perhaps understanding what had happened between us. Vanitas returned the greeting and stood attentively by my side.
Alya released the hug, and panic returned to her eyes, "It is. The only way for something in my body to change is when you sucked my blood." She blushed momentarily, her eye contact with me breaking.
Is it my fault??
"No, no, it's not at all!" As if she read my thoughts from my face, she defended me from myself, "I might have some sort of disease, or curse. And, it shouldn't be an overall good thing."
"Overall?" Something sounded weird in her wording, and I felt my eyes sharpen at her face.
"I can be useful to you at this moment." She said without hesitation.
Mam, what word in 'I don't want you to die for me' you can't understand?
"No! I won't let you fight if it's something that's wrong."
"Bu—But," Alya's eyes stayed on me a moment longer, stunned by me trying to argue for something like this before she continued, "I can fight!" She said as her hands trembled, her fingers rubbing against her palm.
Was she happy?
"Can I take a look?" Suddenly, Vanitas ended an about-to-be-lengthy argument.
Oh! He is a healer! A doctor. He should know the solution if he's a doctor in this Voodoo BS of a world!
"Please. Can you look for the curses she talked about, too? Also, is Vampire body really under your expertise?" I respectfully asked a barrage of questions.
"I treated a Vampire only once, but I sure know enough of curses, and diseases, including Vampires'. If there are some hidden illnesses inside her body, I will see, and perhaps can even aid in healing." He said with a warm smile, grabbing Alya's hand lightly.
Alya looked confused, but she just complied, noticing my compliance.
The same piercingly bright purple light glowed from his hand and traveled through Alya's body from the point he touched, coursing through under her skin, making her glow purple like a lamp.
After just a few seconds, Vanitas shook his head, "She's perfectly fine. Even better than average." As the purple light dimmed, he pulled back his hand.
Phew.
Alya's knees weakened as I caught her in my arms. She recovered before I could worry, her face visibly calmer than before.
"Is there an escape plan?" Alya said, bringing us back on the topic.
"But… Then something might be wrong with you." Vanitas interrupted the thought, turning towards me. Alya's face did a one-eighty, becoming even worse than before.
I went through the same thing. Our friendly fantasy doctor, Vanitas' checkup. It felt awfully similar to drinking Sue's blood, but this time, instead of my nail, it was my entire body… Like itchy air gushed under my skin.
"Yes… You're the problem, Lucien. It's over." He said with a horror-filled face. My eyes shook. Was I about to die? Alya ran up to me, grabbing my hand in both of hers, the warmth and softness of her palms enveloping me.
I might never be able to let you suck me, oh Alya!
"Haha, just kidding!" Vanitas chuckled, patting my shoulder again and again, only to freeze completely at both mine and Alya's death glares.
"Ehm… Your body, especially your heart has sort of mutated? If that makes sense. It's of pure white colour, with some spider like webs, holes, and exudes a strange aura." He said with a straight face.
My body instictively backed off as my upper lips curled upwards revealing my teeth, in pure disgust.
Alya on the other hand looked curious.
"Hehe, it's not that unique for Vampires, especially the… Noble ones." His eyes changed momentarly. "They all, most times have unique traits and mutations. It's a plus!"
Alya's lips parted as she nodded, realising there was no hidding my noble identity. My noble identity?! I am a noble?!
"It seems to bond. Lucien's heart. This must have happend in the extraction process, and the bond… It seems to share it's heals, or more likely all effects with the bonded soul. So when Lucien, after the extraction process, started healing, the same happened with her." Vanitas explained expressionlessly.
"Th—That's great, Luci! You already awakened your Bloodright Resonance." Alya said, turning to me.
But wait a fucking second. I guess me being a noble makes sense? Alya's memories implied that heavily. Be it her being my guard or maid, or that blonde haired woman, Vampire Queen Frieda personally taking care of her, who works for me. It might also mean I am close to Freida.
Bloodright Resonance makes sense, basically the name for a weird mutation. I won't decline an extra power. But… Share all effects? This didn't have a nice ring to it.
"Yes, it seems like it. Alya, your name is?" Vanitas said, to which Alya nodded. "But, it should, if it works on the principle I am guessing, would mean if one of you died, the other would die too. Also, this thing does seem to have other abilities than just this one. But, it's not dangerous to you personally, only benificial." Vanitas said softly.
Romantic. I didn't think much of it. I wasn't planning for any of us to die anyways.
But, Alya on the other hand…
"No. Can we not change who is bonded? It's risky. I can't do anything if I am always afraid of dying!" Alya shouted, closing in to Vanitas like a raging bull.
"As you should be!" I yelled in an equally loud voice, getting in between both Vanitas and Alya.
"..." Vanitas awkwardly scratched his chin.
"If that's what make you care for your life, than this is for the best!" I still can't forget her past, and how she literally killed herself because of me. I can't let someone who cares so much about me, die… again.
"But, still, Luci… You cannot bound your life to someone like me. Your life is more important!"
Before, I could shout back louder, Vanitas intervened hessitatly, "Umm… We should really leave this place first, than you both can talk it out. And, it's not like I can do anything about it, anyways. It's all in Lucien's control."
I nodded with a grin, as Alya let out a defeated sigh. But, I knew she would try it again. I am stubborn as well, just you try!
…
"That works." Vanitas nodded to my plan.
"But, can you open those doors without our nails?" I asked in concern.
"Oh, yeah, don't worry, just release as many as you can, than we will meet up there." He rubbed his chin, my eyes scanned the spot on the stone he marked. He had a whole map drawn, for two floors, noting every corner of the facility, now I learned was called Mari Swan. I was confident my photographic memory would remember every nook of it.
He clearly meant when he said that he had been trying for last seven years.
With a flick of his finger, all three of our bodies glowed bright gold, shoning the entire cell perfectly.
"Let's go!" I nodded to Alya as Vanitas had already vanished with an invisible blur.