21. Pitch Dark

This damn curse made Vlador feel not enough even though he had filled his hunger with lots of human blood. He didn't feel thirsty. His body didn't dry out like when he started to lack blood in his body. However, his hunger was still left with a great desire for the scent of a human's blood that he had once tasted.

Continuing to hold his desire back while being with this girl named Triana was getting harder and harder for him, especially when she kept insisting that she wanted to go with him.

In fact, when Vlador decided to take the treasure alone, he also thought of using that opportunity as a time for him to calm his desire to drink the girl's blood. However, she instead insisted to go with him and they ended up spending time in this closed room.

The craving that Vlador was feeling was no longer bearable and he found an opportunity to test whether he could make his craving feel better. Yes, it was the gosling herself who insisted to come here with him. She also casually entered the mirroring room. She was endangering herself.

The bite wound on the gosling's neck had not yet healed. As Vlador expected, it was still a bit wet and slightly open. When he brought his face close to her neck, he had to restrain himself so he wouldn't sink his fangs there.

Just by tasting the wound and the tender skin of this girl called Triana on the tip of his tongue, he immediately knew that this method would work. Previously, he promised not to bite, but he did not promise not to do anything else.

Vlador deliberately rubbed his tongue repeatedly so he could at least feel what was underneath this soft skin. The aroma and slightly sweet taste of blood that touched the surface of his tongue made him want more. The small movements of the girl in his arms made his eating instincts grow bigger.

His hand moved to grip the back of Triana's neck, feeling the softness of the gosling's neck that felt fit in his grip. While sucking the wound in the hope that a little blood would come out, he satisfied his sense of smell with its delicious aroma.

"Ah… It hurts!"

That exclamation made Vlador's forehead frown for a moment. However, he still closed his eyes tightly and continued what he was doing. It was only a moment. It was non-lethal. She would be fine.

"Please stop," The voice grew weaker.

Valdor could feel the rush of blood flowing through the gosling's veins, making his fangs lengthen according to his instincts. Growling, he gave the wound one last lick before letting go completely.

"Hhh..." Triana took a deep breath between her panting breaths.

Still placing the girl on his lap in a semi-reclining position, Vlador held her cheek and directed her to face him to make sure he didn't come close to killing her.

But Vlador's forehead wrinkled when he realized that the gosling's face was bright red. "Your body is burning. What happened?" he asked with his hand still on her cheek.

Not answering Vlador's question, Triana touched her wet neck with her finger before pulling it back to examine it.

"It didn't bleed, unfortunately," Vlador said.

"It's so painful. You said you wouldn't hurt me," Triana asked, trying to sit up.

"I said not to bite," Vlador answered, picking her up to stand with him. "We must leave immediately. The sun is starting to set,"

"Please wait a moment. I feel weakness in my legs," Triana said, holding onto Vlador's arm.

"I didn't take your blood at all. Why are you so weird?" Vlador asked with a frown.

Then, he wrapped his arms around the girl's back and led her to sit on the chair. He took her money bag which was still not filled to the brim. She dared to play around here even when she had not finished her task. It was a spoiled noble lady do.

"I'll give you a little time. When I get back, we're out of here and you should be able to walk," He said, taking no complaint.

Putting gold coins and some gems into the girl's bag, Vlador felt something strange about his mind. He did not understand why he felt unable to focus and there was a strange sensation on the surface of his lips that made him touch them several times.

"Why is her body so hot? As far as I remember, she was not like that when I drank her blood at that time,"

Slowly, his tongue licked the surface of his lower lip and one of his fangs. The gosling scent seemed to still linger in his nostrils and strands of her silky soft hair felt like they still sit between his fingers.

'My carving feels better, but why am I feeling these strange things? Is this some effect of that damn curse?'

Shaking his head, Vlador stood up because his money bag was full. He returned behind the divider to find the gosling still sitting on the lounger.

"I am done. We should go now," Vlador said without approaching her.

"Oh. Yes, all right," Triana stood up and followed Vlador.

Holding two bags full of money, Vlador pointed his palm at the door. Slowly, the door moved upwards. He could see a yellow light coming from his back, indicating that the girl had taken her lantern and was ready to walk out.

"Mr. Vlador,"

"Yes?" Vlador answered with his eyes still focused on the door of his treasure room. He again raised his palm forward to close it.

"I believe our location now is quite far from the city. Are we going on foot again?" Triana asked quietly.

"Do you mind?" One of Vlador's eyebrows rose.

"Um… I feel a bit… tired," Triana replied with a slight mutter and her face slowly lowered down.

"If you're that tired, we'll leave at sunset so I can fly," Vlador decided after letting out a sigh.

"Thank you, Mr. Vlador. I wholly appreciate it," Triana smiled slightly.

The door to the secret room was closed, now they returned to only having a lantern as their only source of light. The way in and out was the same, but Vlador felt a strange atmosphere between them now.

Secretly, he glanced at the girl beside him who kept silent. Her little hand was holding the lantern forward and her steps were a bit sluggish. It seemed that something strange had happened to her. But instead of asking how she was doing, Vlador said what he should say, "Walk faster."

"Y-yes…" Triana replied, hastening her steps.

Frowning his forehead, Vlador glanced back at the girl who was speeding up her small steps. He gulped and clenched his jaw for no reason.

But suddenly, the girl tripped over something and her body was thrown forward. In an instant, Vlador directed his hand to grab her waist.

Tash!

The lantern that Triana was holding fell onto the stone floor and broke. The only light in the passage suddenly went out, turning it into pitch dark.

Gripping Vlador's hand that was still holding her waist so she didn't fall to the floor, Triana tried to get back on her feet. She raised her hand forward as if to reach something except blank air.

"I'm sorry. Looks like I tripped over a broken floor. It… it's so dark here,"