«R-Ren… what the hell happened?!» Iris shouts.
Despite being only eighteen, she looks more mature — both because of her height, almost equal to Ren's, and because of her well-developed breasts and hips.
Her worry is more than justified — Ren has just shown up at the front door with two deep wounds and Yuzu unconscious in his arms.
«I-It was that vampire again. But this time he did more than just threaten me… I managed to force him back, but Yuzu passed out when I got hurt. You know how scared she is of blood…»
«It's lucky that Mika is already asleep. Otherwise, she'd be lecturing us as always about how dangerous it is to stay here… even though, after everything that's happened lately, I can't really blame her. Mom and Dad bought that vacation house in Italy, remember? The idea of moving there doesn't really appeal to me, but it seems like the only solution left.»
As she speaks, Iris gently takes Yuzu from Ren's arms and lays her on the double bed beside Mika.
It used to belong to their parents, but for safety reasons, the four of them now sleep there together.
While Iris carries Yuzu into the bedroom, Ren collapses onto the couch, completely drained. He grabs the pack of cigarettes from the coffee table and lights one.
Normally, Iris would scold him and force him to go outside to smoke, but tonight she doesn't have the heart to be strict with him.
Behind him, a family photo hangs on the wall like a painting.
In the front row stand Ren and his sisters. Behind them are Aoshi Toya, a human, and Eliss Narkhalis, a succubus and former princess of the demon kingdom of Ravessia, in the world of Elyndra.
She had given up that title more than twenty years earlier to live on Earth with Aoshi.
But their parents have been only a painful memory for six years now, slaughtered by Raelor Valraen.
«I know very well that moving would be the safest choice… but it would mean forcing you to give up the life you've built here. I swore I'd do everything I could to let you have as normal a teenage life as possible, and I have no intention of backing down — even if it costs me my life.»
«Stop treating me like I'm a child. I can't let you be the only one who sacrifices himself for us. You're not the only one who knows how to fight, yet you always keep me out of it… I want to protect my family too!»
As she speaks, Iris pulls off Ren's shirt first. Then she removes his underwear and pants, leaving him completely naked.
She steps away briefly to throw his torn, bloodstained clothes into the trash.
Finally, she crouches down in front of him.
«Let me take care of your wounds, Ren.»
He nods, and she takes his left arm, gently pulling it toward her. Her eyes fill with tears at the sight of her brother's deep gash.
Iris parts her lips and sticks out her tongue. Then she presses it against the wound and begins to lick along its edges.
Ren clenches his teeth at the burning sensation as Iris spreads her saliva over it, now tinted a dull pink.
It's a powerful healing magic, found only in the most experienced succubi.
A power that turns saliva into a miraculous lotion, capable of closing even very serious wounds.
Iris knows how much the process hurts. She tightly grips his hand while she licks the wound, as if to share his pain.
After the treatment, the wound on his arm doesn't disappear, but it has at least stopped bleeding and is much less open.
Now she moves to the wound on his thigh and begins healing it in the same way.
«Do you feel better now, Ren?» she asks.
Ren nods silently. His gaze is fixed on the ceiling, slightly blurred by cigarette smoke.
The care his sister gives him are unmatched, and yet they aren't enough to drive away the name the vampire mentioned: Raelor Valraen.
"How the hell does he know him…? Could Raelor really be behind all this? I doubt it… he's never been the type to surround himself with lackeys. Unfortunately, he's still far more powerful than me, and if he were really interested in me, it would take him only a moment to take me by force. That bastard… sooner or later, I'll kill him, even if it's the last thing I do!"
«Do you need anything else, Ren?» she asks, her eyes full of love.
«Just a shower.»