Vampire and Witch (GL) - Chapter 8

Grey had another dream.

In it, she returned to the house where she lived as a child. The woman who had adopted her sat in a rocking chair, reading a book in silence. Suddenly, another woman’s voice came from behind.

“Delphine, what exactly are you researching?”

The middle-aged woman named Delphine frowned, as if expressing inner discontent. She closed the book and slowly stood up.

“God is eternal, so when humans were created, they were given an eternal essence. A human is human because of a special essence within—eternity.” ¹⁾

“If we can decipher this oracle, we can achieve immortality!”

She turned her gaze toward Grey, a shallow smile playing on her lips.

“Grey, once we achieve immortality, we will never be apart. I will always be by your side, and you will never feel lonely again.”

“Grey, stay with me forever…”

No!

I don’t want this!

I don’t want to become a monster!

I… I just want to be a normal person too…

Grey opened her eyes. Before she could raise her hand, a cool touch brushed against her skin, gently wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Sif’s beautiful face came into focus. Her amber eyes were filled with worry, her complexion had regained its healthy color, and her voice was no longer dry or raspy.

“Grey, you’re awake. Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

Grey shook her head. “Just a dream. What about you? You look like you’ve recovered.”

Sif squeezed her hand and smiled. “Mm. Thank you, Grey.”

Grey watched her quietly for a long time before asking softly, “Sif, do you always have the urge to drink blood?”

Sif tilted her head slightly, a look of confusion in her eyes. “No. I only crave blood when I am physically exhausted or extremely weak. As you’ve guessed, the situation in Edinburgh drained a lot of my energy; that’s why I was so hungry…” She paused, then decided to change the subject. “Actually, vampires have no sense of taste and can’t digest human food. Perhaps because I’m a dhampir, I can taste a tiny bit of flavor.”

Because of this, Sif could go long periods without eating without it affecting her health much—as long as she had fresh blood to replenish her strength.

“I see.” Grey nodded. She looked at Sif’s face thoughtfully for a moment. “I have a proposal. In the future, whenever you feel hungry, I’ll give you a little bit of my blood. How about that?”

Sif froze, then immediately shook her head. “No!”

Grey sighed helplessly. “I can draw the blood and put it in a container. That way, you won’t have to worry about hurting me.”

The expression on Sif’s face immediately turned sullen, and there was a flicker of indistinguishable disappointment in her eyes.

Grey used the tone one might use to coax a child. “We’re going to be friends for a very, very long time, aren’t we? I don’t want to see you looking sickly all the time. Besides, shouldn’t friends help each other?”

Sif pursed her lips, her eyes half-cast downward as she tried to hide the tears welling up. “Grey… are you this good to everyone?”

“Of course not. Because you are special.”

Grey lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling for a while. “Sif, actually, just like you, I really want to be an ordinary human. I don’t want immortality or eternal life at all.”

“I just want to be a normal person, live a simple life, and grow old naturally.”

Grey sighed softly. “Of course, after all these years, I’ve come to terms with it. But it seems the heavens heard my heart’s wish and let me meet you.”

“Sif, I’ve never had friends because I know everyone around me will eventually leave.”

“But I am very lonely.”

“So, I’ll give you my blood, and you stay by my side. Is that okay?”

After a long silence with no response, Grey turned her head to look at the figure by the bed. Sif was sniffing softly, her amber eyes misty.

She choked out in a small voice, “I promise.”

“Grey, I promise you. I will stay by your side.”

Grey was still a bit weak; the sudden loss of blood left her feeling dizzy and fatigued, so she accepted Sif’s insistence to stay and rest.

Sif took care of her meticulously—bringing her tea, feeding her, carrying a basin over to wash her body, and even offering to do the laundry. However, when Grey saw the damp stains on her underwear, she was so embarrassed she wanted to dive under the covers.

The atmosphere in the room turned a bit awkward. Sif sat on the edge of the bed with her back to Grey, fiddling with a strand of hair. “Actually, that’s a very normal physiological reaction,” she whispered. “Because it felt good…”

Grey glared at the woman’s back and gave her a light thump. Out of sight, the vampire was grinning happily.

Grey eventually changed her undergarments—the dampness was too uncomfortable. This was the first time Grey had shared a bed with someone. Sif’s body temperature was low; when Grey’s leg accidentally brushed hers, she shivered. She thought to herself that hugging Sif in the summer would be wonderful.

Sif moved aside slightly. “Sorry.”

Grey grabbed her arm and pulled her back. If the girl moved any further, she’d fall off. “Stay closer. Don’t fall.”

As Sif’s arm touched Grey’s soft chest, her ears turned pink. Memories of the beautiful, hazy scene when she drank Grey’s blood flooded back, making her throat feel dry.

Hearing the sound in Sif’s throat, Grey laughed. “Want to drink blood again?”

“N-no!”

“Is my blood really that sweet?”

Sif blinked. “You… don’t remember?”

Grey looked confused. “Remember what? I’ve never tasted my own blood. Can you describe it for me?”

Sif’s gaze darkened with a hint of hidden loss. “Hmm… it’s very sweet. Sweeter than candy.”

Grey raised an eyebrow. It seemed this vampire really liked sweets; if she were a normal human, she’d probably be a girl who loved desserts.

“By the way,” Grey asked, “you took the cat sachet, didn’t you?”

Sif nodded. “Yeah. I thought I’d lost it, but it turns out Hailey took it.”

“Why did you pick the one with the cat?”

Sif hesitated for a moment before whispering, “Because it’s cute, and it looks like you…”

“I look like a cat?”

“Mm. When you’re bristling.”

Grey reached out and pinched Sif’s cheek. “I think you look like a dog.”

“Grey, I feel like you’re insulting me.”

But Sif wasn’t unhappy at all; she even nuzzled into Grey’s palm like a puppy trying to please its master. Grey couldn’t stop laughing. “Sif, you really do love sweet things.”

Inside the cat sachet, besides the floral scents Grey liked, she had added sweet pomegranate jam.

Sif suddenly turned her head to look at Grey. “Grey, do you remember me saying I saw you twenty years ago?”

Grey looked back at her seriously. “Mm.”

The moonlight spilled through the sheer curtains, coating the room in a soft glow. Sif’s amber eyes were misty. “Back then, you gave me a piece of candy. It was sweet—the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted in this world.”

“I was so tired and hungry then. I hadn’t had blood in so long, so I was waiting by a butcher shop.”

Flashback: Twenty Years Ago

Sif was crouching by the back door of a butcher shop. By evening, the owner finally threw out the leftover scraps. She immediately began rummaging through the raw meat in the trash, looking for any traces of cattle blood. Even a little would help suppress the hunger.

“Don’t eat that. It’s raw.”

A soft, feminine voice came from behind. Sif froze and looked back, then frantically pulled her hat down. Her eyes were crimson, her fangs were out—the full vampire form was exposed. She couldn’t let anyone see her.

“I have some bread here. I can share it with you.”

The woman held out a piece of bread. Seeing Sif wouldn’t take it, she placed it gently on the ground.

“I’ll leave it here. If you’re still hungry, I have a piece of candy. Sugar can help stave off hunger too.”

“I’m leaving now. Remember, don’t eat that raw meat.”

Sif watched the woman’s figure until she disappeared into the crowd. That brief glance—the woman’s face, her figure, the sweet scent she carried—was permanently etched into Sif’s soul.

Grey was stunned for a long time. She didn’t remember. She didn’t remember meeting Sif or helping her. She did have a habit of carrying candy—to coax children during house calls, or to give herself a boost when she was tired. She never expected a casual act of kindness to create such a deep bond.

Grey tilted her head, tracing Sif’s profile in the moonlight. If she had seen such a beautiful face back then, she wouldn’t have forgotten it.

“Sif, have you been living like that all this time? Alone?”

Like a drifter…

“What about your parents? Are there others like you?”

Sif sighed. “My mother was a Pureblood vampire. She fell in love with my father, who was human. She was killed shortly after I was born—by another vampire.”

“Why…?”

“They wouldn’t allow her to be with a human. Especially one from the Royal Family. Grey, you’ve probably heard my father’s name: the former Duke Carven. The cousin the Queen personally stripped of his title.”

Grey was shocked. The Duke Carven scandal had been massive. Rumors said he had an affair with a married commoner, leading the Queen to cast him out and forbid anyone from mentioning him.

Grey remembered the public thought the punishment was too harsh. The Duke had a great reputation; the banned emission policy had been his idea. People said he was one of the few officials actually doing good for the people. He had simply fallen in love with the “wrong” person.

He had loved a vampire.

“After Mother died, Father took me and fled. We spent twelve years as fugitives. It was hard, but because of him, those years are the happiest memories of my life.” Sif’s voice wavered. “He never treated me as a monster. Even when my hunger awakened and my features changed, he said I would always be his most precious child.”

Sif sniffed. “Later, he caught a plague and passed away.”

Grey sighed and tenderly stroked Sif’s head. “Sif, I know who you take after now. You’re just like the Duke. Do you know how people described him? Kind, easygoing, honest… Sif, you really are a warm person.”

Sif turned to Grey, her amber eyes shimmering. After a long silence, she whispered: “Silvertica Carven.”

“Silvertica Carven. That is my true name.”