Vampire and Witch (GL) - Chapter 7

Grey had a dream. In it, a golden-furred Newfoundland dog was constantly circling her, being incredibly clingy.

The pup loved licking her fingers, her cheeks, her neck, and her lips with its wet tongue. Grey found it quite annoying and tried to push the dog away, but it would just trot right back, tilting its head and staring straight at her with clear amber eyes.

It was a bit dim-witted, yet undeniably cute.

Grey stopped finding it annoying. She hugged the dog tightly and unconsciously murmured a name.

“Sif…”

That dream left Grey in a daze for the rest of the day.

Today marked the tenth day of Sif’s disappearance. Ten whole days without the “delicacy” of bread and black tea. Grey couldn’t help but sigh.

The army recruitment seemed to have been put on hold; the town had merely issued an ambiguous notice that didn’t explicitly cancel it, but didn’t say it would continue either. The atmosphere had briefly returned to calm, but there was still no news of Sif.

Grey sighed again.

The shop door opened, and a middle-aged woman in a white dress entered. She was wrapped tightly in her clothes, showing only her plain features, with her long hair tucked away under a hat. She clutched her chest, panting slightly.

“Grey, are you free? Can you come and help?”

“I’m free, Nurse Rodman.”

Grey quickly packed her things, stuffing every useful medicine into her bag, and left the shop with the bulging pack on her back. On the way, Nurse Rodman explained the situation.

“A dozen outsiders arrived today from Edinburgh. Everyone has injuries—sword wounds, falls, and some strange… jagged, torn wounds. We’re short-staffed and the hospital is full, so we’ve settled them in the church.”

Grey froze. “Bite wounds? How did that happen? A beast attack?”

“They don’t look like animal teeth marks to me. That’s why it’s so strange.”

Grey didn’t ask further, but her skin crawled.

The church, usually cold and quiet, had become chaotic. The injured lay lifelessly on the floor, faces pale and dim. Some moaned in pain, while the more severely injured had already fainted. Grey focused entirely on treating them, completely failing to notice the gaze fixed on her back.

From the moment Grey entered, Hailey had noticed her. Hailey watched her moves from the shadows, minimizing her own presence as she saw Grey expertly bandage wounds and tenderly comfort the patients.

“A witch, huh…” Hailey murmured to herself.

After tending to the wounded, Grey went to the small courtyard behind the church to wash her hands.

From the victims, she learned the horrific truth about Edinburgh. A month ago, Lord Howard’s army arrived and set up camp by the docks. Soon after, the government ordered a mandatory draft. Young men disappeared into the barracks and were never heard from again.

Then came the “beast” sightings, animal carcasses drained of blood, and finally, the discovery at the docks: dozens of headless bodies. People followed the blood trails to the barracks, where they found a nightmare—mountains of heads and corpses soaking in a river of black, putrid blood.

Lord Howard’s family had vanished. When witnesses tried to report it, a new army arrived, arrested them, and put the towns under martial law. These wounded people were the lucky few who escaped both the soldiers and the monsters.

Grey took several deep breaths to steady herself. It was her first time encountering such raw human darkness.

How could they use people for experiments?!

Grey retched violently. She hadn’t eaten all day and was exhausted; only bile came up. Hearing footsteps, she spun around warily. “Who’s there?”

“Are you alright?” A sweet, unfamiliar voice asked. A girl in black nun’s robes and a white habit stood there, offering water and bread. “The church prepared this. Thank you for your hard work today.”

“Thank you.” Grey took the food, but her eyes darkened. She smelled a faint scent of blood on the nun—much like Sif’s—mixed with a hint of magnolia, cedar, and rose.

Grey knew that scent. She had blended it herself.

“Are you a nun here?” Grey asked, feigning calm.

“Sister Hailey, of the Janos Church.”

Grey watched her leave, her gaze turning sharp. She was certain the nun had been in contact with Sif. Why else would she smell of Sif and Grey’s custom perfume?

Determined, Grey slipped into the back of the church where the clergy stayed. She moved from room to room, her nose twitching as she tried to capture Sif’s scent in the air.

“Ms. Florence, what are you looking for?” Sister Hailey’s voice came from behind.

Grey turned. “You know my name?”

Hailey smiled but didn’t answer. Grey stepped forward, her gaze searching. “Where is Sif?”

“The person you are looking for isn’t here, Madam. Please leave.”

Losing patience, Grey lunged with lightning speed, grabbing at the waist of the nun’s robes. Hailey stumbled back. Clatter. A cat-patterned sachet fell to the floor.

Grey snatched it up. She knew nun’s robes had no pockets; anything carried had to be pinned to the inner waist.

“Where did you get this? Where is Sif?!” Grey’s voice rose, and heat began to gather in her palms. “Where is Silvertica?!”

“Grey, I’m here.”

A cool body pressed against her back. Arms looped around her waist, and cold lips brushed her earlobe. Sif’s raspy, deep voice whispered, “Be good. Come with me.”

Sif pulled Grey away, shooting a cold, crimson-eyed glare at Sister Hailey as they turned.

The door clicked shut. The room was pitch black. In the silence, only their breathing could be heard.

Sif, the vampire who had just “kidnapped” her, was now curled up in the corner, hiding as far away as possible.

“Sif…” Grey called softly. She squatted down, remembering her dream. This puppy wasn’t just dim-witted; she was cautious, almost afraid of hurting her friend. Grey reached out, and the icy touch of Sif’s hand made her shiver.

Sif’s temperature was lower than ever. She yanked her hand back. “Grey… stay away from me.”

“Why? Sif, are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Then why won’t you let me near? Where have you been? Did you do those things in Edinburgh? Who is that nun? Are you a prisoner here?”

In the dark, Sif let out a soft, dry laugh. “Grey, you’re so noisy.”

“I’m worrying about you, and you call me noisy?” Grey swiped at her shoulder but was caught by the wrist and pulled into a soft embrace. Sif held her tight, her hot breath falling over Grey’s neck.

Grey heard Sif swallow hard. She reached up to stroke Sif’s head. “Do you want my blood?”

“No.”

“Then why are you hovering over my neck? You said my blood was sweet. That you couldn’t resist…”

“I won’t!” Sif cried out. She was shaking. “Last time I lost control… I can’t let it happen again. Grey, just let me hold you for a moment…”

“It’s not losing control. It’s your body’s instinct.”

Grey lifted Sif’s head. Sif’s red eyes darted around, refusing to meet Grey’s gaze, her pale lips trembling as she fought back her fangs.

“Sif, tell me why you won’t drink.”

Sif let out a sob. “I don’t want to hurt humans. I don’t want to be a monster… Grey, I just want to be an ordinary person…”

Grey wiped away Sif’s tears. She hadn’t realized Sif’s reason was so simple, yet so profound. To protect humans, she was willing to starve herself.

“I understand,” Grey whispered, stroking Sif’s hair. “But you’re so weak. You need blood. Just bite me, okay?”

“No. I can endure it. At worst, I’ll just sleep for a long time…”

“Sif, aren’t we friends?”

Sif pushed at her shoulder weakly. “Do friends just let vampires bite them?”

Grey smiled. “Yes. I’m just that generous. Besides, in the long years ahead, you’re the only friend I have who can stay by my side forever. Do you want to leave me all alone while you sleep?”

“I haven’t had bread and tea in ten days. I’m not used to being without my assistant. And the perfume is ready—don’t you want to see it? You said you were curious about me. I haven’t even told you my past yet. You can’t sleep yet.”

Grey tilted her head, pulling down her collar to reveal her pale, soft neck. “You said my blood was sweet. Come on, Sif. Don’t hold back.”

The room was silent enough to hear the hungry vampire swallow one last time.

“Grey… is it really okay?”

“Yes. Come here.”

“Then… it might hurt at first. Endure it, and it will start to feel good…”

Before Grey could process that loaded sentence, a sharp pain pierced her neck. She gasped. Fangs broke the skin, and Sif’s soft lips latched onto the wound. Her tongue curled, expertly licking away the seeping blood.

A comfortable sigh escaped Grey’s lips. She hooked her arms around Sif’s neck, pulling her closer. That strange, euphoric sensation returned.

Sif held Grey firmly, lifting one of Grey’s thighs with her own and pressing it against her crotch, rubbing rhythmically.

“Ah… Sif… hah, ungh…”

Grey’s strength vanished. She actively hiked up her skirt, allowing her damp center to press flush against Sif’s thigh. She moved her hips, lost in the brief, wanton pleasure. The rough fabric of their clothes ground against her, and slick moisture began to soak through.

Sif seemed oblivious to Grey’s specific movements; she was purely focused on the sweet, delicious meal in her arms.

Minutes passed in the sweltering air. Finally, Grey let out a low whimper, her body shaking as her mind went blank. She panted, her eyes misty. She saw Sif looking at her with a worried, furrowed brow.

Grey smiled. Why did she look like that after a full meal? Seeing a smear of red on Sif’s lip, Grey leaned in and licked it off, tasting it.

“It’s not sweet at all…” Grey grumbled before falling asleep on Sif’s shoulder.

Sif froze, her pale face turning bright red as she looked down at the sleeping witch. Grey’s clothes were a mess—her collar open, her skirt bunched at her waist, and a clear dark stain visible on her underwear.

Grey has such a good figure…

Sif swallowed. She felt hungry again, but in a different way. She kissed Grey’s forehead tenderly, then nuzzled the wound on her neck.

“So sweet,” Sif whispered. “Grey’s blood is sweet. Her perfume is sweet. I wonder if the rest of her… is just as sweet?”