Chapter 7:
Into the deeper part of his castle, Chris strolled with Nastassja ascending to a higher level. She wore a short dress as dark as her hair with golden linings at the lower end, and the strapless bodice accented at her empire waist complimented her slim figure. Her gait provided by her fuck-me heels showed an unusual appeal and composure which made Chris, who was watching from behind, nod in delicious agreement.
The spiraling stairs went on and on, as if he was climbing a tower with no end, and the occasional light of the moon peering on the arch windows every turn were his only means of light.
Chris wasn’t surprised in the slightest. From where he came from, he could keep the light through the use of electricity all night, all day. However in this world, as he predicted, everybody relies on the usage of fire and those crimson crystals decorating their stone corridors. That, and the light of the moon itself.
Those were fine and all, but he still felt uncomfortable living a nocturnal lifestyle. What would Nastassja say if she found out he was nothing but a regular human? Rather, he was surprised to say they hadn’t found out yet.
Chris heaved a sigh as he thought about it. Reaching the end of the stairs, another gigantic iron door barred their way. The doors opened in front of Nastassja, and two ghost maids welcomed them inside. Another maid appeared out of nowhere and stood in front of Chris, slipping his arms inside a gray robe with golden linings and red stripes on both sleeves. Nastassja walked closer and adjusted the sleeves then fastened the belt around his waist.
“The Lord’s Cornelius.” She turned to one of the maids and took a sword from her outstretched hands. That sword was belted on his hips, completing his new getup.
“Cornelius?” murmured Chris as he unsheathed the sword. Extending to at least 75 centimeters, the obsidian blade was engraved by several markings Chris recognized as this world’s alphabet. The guard itself was curved like a pincer claw with a gem attached on the middle resembling a cat’s eye. Fancy decorations for a fancy short sword, he thought.
“That sword is my family heirloom.” She nodded, her eyes large in excitement and a grin on her face. “Cornelius was the name of a dragon my great grandfather slew on his younger years and that sword was animated from that dragon’s corpse, hence its name.”
“And you’re giving it to me?” Chris knew from their confrontation before not to trust her when she was smiling like that. It seemed like she had a hidden motive brewing in the process.
“Yes. You are the current lord of this land, my betrothed - so it is yours by right,” explained the succubus with a malicious smile.
Chris narrowed his eyes at her. “Nastassja, what are you hiding from me?”
She tip-toed and whispered softly, “That’s for me to know, Chris, and you to find out.” Her smile was so sweet it made Chris feel even more jeopardized. He didn’t know what would become of him; he didn’t care, for now.
“Fine, let’s play your game,” he said, sliding the sword back to its sheath.
“Ah.” Her hands entwined on his neck and she brought his cheek down. “It makes me glad you are willing to play, Chris,” she murmured, kissing him sweetly.
She then gestured something to one of the maids; the maid brought an empty glass of wine to her. Nastassja drew a line around her wrist with her index finger and crimson liquid started to spill from the open slit, filling the glass with her blood a few notches below the rim.
“When was the last time you had your meal, my lord?” she asked, licking the wound on her wrist close.
Chris stared at her, spellbound and speechless for a moment. He couldn’t even tell how long he was asleep before he was transferred here and asking his mischievous wife about it seemed like the wrong choice. But now she started talking about food, his stomach grumbled in protest.
“I don’t know.” Chris drew his brows, wondering why she asked.
“Well then,” she offered Chris the glass of blood. “I hope this is enough until we have reached the elves.”
He didn’t want to consider it, but his curiosity as a writer defeated his common sense. A sip, he thought. A single sip; that was all he was willing to take.
He took the glass from her hand then put it against his lips. “Oh, fuck it.”
Her blood tasted sweet, unlike the horrid taste of iron that once circulated his mouth when a certain father broke his face once. It smoothly went down his throat with a faint undertone of vanilla. Chris never imagined this taste at least. He imagined himself spitting it back out the moment it coated his taste buds. But her blood was unlike anything he’d had before.
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When Chris came back to his senses, the glass was empty and his hunger sated. He blinked and stared. Chris stood there, confused, wondering to himself if he just did what he did.
“Ready to leave, Chris?” he heard Nastassja asked.
He nodded, unable to utter a single word. As his thoughts were overruled by the taste of her blood, Chris heard the flapping of wind followed by a loud, beastly, growl.
This sudden noise shot his eyes back up, looking for the source. Something descended from above the large open space of the ceiling. Covered in black scales and two claws at the points where its wings bent, a large reptile came down and stood on its muscular hind legs.
Nastassja walked toward it, and the beast lowered its head at her presence.
“Is she not adorable?” She patted its chin, giggling, as she pressed one side of her cheek against its nose. Seeing her make such an honest expression made Chris smile and it gave him confidence to approach.
“So, this is a wyvern?” asked Chris, petting the reptile on its stomach.
“Yes, her name is Felicia,” answered the succubus. “Come, it is time for us to leave, Chris.”
The wyvern lowered the entirety of its neck down, allowing Nastassja and Chris to jump on the saddle attached on its nape. Chris sat in front and held onto the reins secured at the spike protruding out of its neckline while Nastassja put her arms around his chest.
“Felicia, take us to the borders of Titania!” said Nastassja. The wyvern flapped its leather wings and slowly levitated itself from the ground. Then up and above, it flew!
“Holy shit!” Chris exclaimed as they soared over the bridge connecting the castle to his town. Fanned by the wind, his face felt the swooping breeze, and a sight he called amazing unfolded in his eyes.
“This land - our land, what do you think of it, Chris?”
“It’s beautiful.” He felt her arms tightening around his chest as soon as he declared that.
“Me too,” she said. “I want to protect this place, Chris. The castle, our servants, the town - each and everyone living in here.”
Though they have plenty of differences with what they consider as normal, Chris didn’t view the residents in this world any less than he do on the other side.
“Nastassja…” Chris paused, finding the right words to come. “You’re not alone, and don’t think that you are. If you really think so highly of this place, then why can’t you just consider everyone as your new family? Must you be so hellbent on revenge that you have to throw everything?”
“What do you even know?” Hatred regained its confidence in her tone. “You know nothing.”
“Exactly.” Chris wanted to say more in that regard but decided to forgo. She wasn’t looking for any cheap words of sympathy; she was a strong girl on her own right. Just like Jasmine Reeds. “So, any idea why the elves are sneaking around?” he asked in hopes it could divert them from their current topic.
“A few,” she replied. “Unlike us demons who generate mana inside our bodies, Elves absorb mana from their beloved Tree of Life through the runes etched on their bodies. Their mystique magics are to be feared, perhaps on par with us to a certain degree, however outside of Titania, they are nothing but regular hunters. My guess is that they came here to expand their territory now that we have a new demon lord.”
“So news travel fast, eh? Is there any chance that conflict will spark between us?”
“Yes, but that is why you are here, no? To solve this conflict before it shapes into something big.”
“I think I told you once; I don’t know why the old man - or overlord as you describe him - sent me here. But I can tell you one thing, Nastassja. I will not stand idly by if they do decide to invade us. Though with the current state of things, I wonder if I’ll be of any use at all.”
Chris, after all, was just a regular human. He hadn’t even touched a sword in his life, let alone use this magic she was boasting about. Chris do not like violence. He do not wish to be its recipient, and he hate to carry out such an immoral action. But if their fate would hang in the balance, then he would act, even if he had to force himself.
“What do you mean by that?” asked Nastassja.
“Well, we’ll see when the time comes. For now, we need to interrogate these Elves first.”
With that, the wyvern sped up and Chris wailed like a little boy again.