Loud noises came into my ears. Left and right.

Screeches, shrieks, echoes.

Left.

The volume surged and dipped.

Right.

Like sharp arrows shooting past my ear.

Nothing but a vast expanse of grey around me, save for a distant voice...

I know this voice...

A familiar voice...

Voices...

Sweet and... twisted.

Covering my ears, I clutched my head, yet the noises acted as if my hands didn't exist.

Stop it...

I collapsed on my knees.

"Sweetie..."

My chest tightened.

"You're beautiful, sweetie!"

The air was heavy as if I was trying to breathe underwater.

"I consider it my magnum opus."

I don't care...

I couldn't breathe. I was suffocating.

"Kill yourself."

My heart pounded in my chest and ears, loud and uneven.

Shut up...

"I called it 'Purple Night'."

Where's the air?

"It's yours, sweetie."

My mother sliced my throat.

"This is my favorite weapon, sweetie."

My mother killed me.

"If you give mom a strong hug."

She pressed a cold, sharp spike against my throat, increasing the pressure until I could feel blood trickling down.

"This is my gift for you."

My blood...

Stop it...

"Are you ready, Argenta?"

Ready for what...?

"That's a secret."

I don't want to hear it...

"Don't worry, this won't kill me. Just observe the blood."

No...

"Sweetie..."

A cacophony of voices...

"This spell is not to be taken lightly."

"That's a secret."

"Sweetie..."

"Kill yourself."

Shut up...

"The spell is..."

Leave me alone...

"Snowflake!"

I don't want to hear it...

"Kill yourself."

"Snowflake!"

I don't want to think about anything…

"Snowflake!"

I gasped. My eyes snapped open, and all I could see was red and brown; blurred, shifting, unfamiliar. I was trapped, and any attempt to escape was nothing but a futile struggle.

"Leave me!" I shouted.

My breath came in shallow, frantic bursts while my body trembled uncontrollably as little red filaments swayed before my sight.

"Snowflake, calm down!" she shouted back.

I blinked. I blinked again and again trying to clear the fog from my mind. I was seeing... hair? And... a wooden ceiling?

"Leave…?" Now my voice was weak, and I could feel my cheeks getting wet.

Breathe.

"Snowflake, relax!"

Breathe in.

"Crimson?"

Where's the air?!

"It's me, Snowflake…"

Count the seconds.

"Don't... leave…" I whispered, inhaling air, trembling.

"I won't, Snowflake," she whispered back.

I clutched at her. "Crimson…"

"I'm here," she insisted, her voice even more softer. "I'm here, Snowflake."

She was... She was. Her arms wrapped tightly around me, holding me close.

Not enough...

"It was just a nightmare," she soothed. "I'm here."

Why is it so cold?

"Hold me..." I sobbed, burying my face in her chest, trying to cling to her warmth. "Please, don't let me go."

"I won't, I'm here," she whispered again, stroking my hair. "I'm here, Snowflake. Relax. Everything is alright."

I inhaled and exhaled. Continuously, repeatedly, without a stop, focusing only on the steady rise and fall of her chest warming my face as I breathed in her perfume. And slowly, so slowly... everything calmed down thanks to the warmth of her embrace seeping into my skin. My trembling eased, and still clinging to her, I relaxed into her arms.

"Crimson..."

"I'm here, Snowflake."

I raised my head to meet her gaze. Lifting my shivering hand, I then cupped her cheek. Warm… it was so warm...

"Crimson... a-are you really sure? You must… really despise me now…"

"What?" She met me with concerned, wide eyes. "No… Why would I?"

"I'm such a mess..." I murmured, looking down. "I-I just made such a scene... and, there's still a lot you don't know about me. I'm a monster..."

With a sigh, she lifted my chin, guiding my gaze back to hers. Her hand hovered in front of me. I blinked, confused.

"Ow!"

She flicked me!

"Why did you do that?!" I angrily demanded.

"Well, I tried convincing you with words, but since they don't work… I have to resort to a physical approach," she replied smugly.

Rubbing my forehead to ease the sting, I grumbled at her. "It wouldn't hurt you to vocalize your love once again to help me understand, you know?"

"I'd rather show my love for you in other ways."

"I want to hear you say it again!"

"Would that really help you?"

"Yes!"

Nearly exasperated to the point of rolling her eyes, she leaned in. "Alright. Then, listen carefully, because I'm not going to repeat it again," she whispered, looking at me deeply. "Snowflake… I love you. I love you; I don't think you're a monster, nor would I mind were you one. Whatever comes with loving you, I don't mind."

"Do you still love me, really?"

"Really."

"Really, really?"

"I'll flick you again."

I stared at her; I didn't want another flick. So, I tried to discern any sign of falsehood in her expression, but I couldn't find any. And though my doubts didn't vanish... they at least quieted. "Alright, I believe you…"

Satisfied, she met me with a proud, all-knowing smile.

"Listen, Crimson…" I continued. "Before going to your parents, can we stay here for a few days? I... want to tell you a bit about how... my magic, or whatever I am, works."

She nodded. "We're not leaving until your fever goes away. Then, whenever you're ready."

Crimson's doubts were not the only things I had to clear; I had a lot for myself. I still knew nothing about my mother. What she was, what she did...

How did she even pull out such a thing? My codex changed, and my dagger... just how?

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

While a part of me wanted to forget about everything... I also couldn't shake the need to know.

I sighed. "I really don't understand much about it myself," I murmured, more to myself than her. "But that... that can wait. For now, if you truly want to show me your love just as much I want to show you mine… please, just give me your warmth."

Without the slightest regard, I captured her, and gave her a kiss. Two, three, four… more and so much more, until I lost count and they became incommensurable. What began as a simple desire under the guise of conveying all the things I couldn't put into words: my love, my gratitude for what she'd done for me, my need, turned into a pure and selfish act bordering on desperation.

Yet, I didn't care. I didn't care at all. In fact, I reveled in it.

Oh, how I had missed it! How I wanted it! My body was cold as ice, while hers burned hot like a fire! Perhaps the fever was just clouding my mind, making me fuzzy and confused; theoretically, I should've been the one burning up, yet the chill I felt was never-ending. I craved warmth, and I wanted to feel better, just as much as I wanted to forget...

And she was the only way I could make it happen. Crimson…

Crimson, Crimson, Crimson! Oh, why was she so warm?! How could her body even produce such heat?! Just like ice, I felt like melting over her. Into her! Had I the chance, I'd crawl beneath her skin just like a parasite to siphon all the warmth I could drain from her very essence. Smother myself against her, tear her open, let her boiling blood warm mine as one, let her viscera bathe my body, and…!

"This is bad..." I murmured. Nothing had changed; in fact, things only got worse. I was still in bed, it was also still morning, and I was still somewhat trembling under the sheets, but everything was now spinning around me. "I'm still cold, Crimson. Why am I so cold?"

"You're sweating," she softly said, giving me a peck. "It's a good thing."

"But my head is spinning..."

With nowhere else to look at, I let my eyes fall, staring at her chest.

"My eyes are not there, you know," she teased, forcing my chin up until our eyes met.

"I'm cold…" I simply replied. "I feel tired. I want to sleep..."

"Then rest."

She said that as if I never thought about it. I did! Yet, at the same time... I didn't feel like it. Well, I did, somewhat? But even if I wanted to, my body was too cold to allow me to sleep. "What if I'm dying?"

Almost smirking, she raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you a little dramatic?"

"It's really cold..."

Silence followed. An awkward one, as she kept looking deeply into my eyes. At least, until she broke it. "Did I already tell you that I missed you?"

"Huh…" I didn't know how to reply to that. I didn't even know what was going through her head to say such a thing, seemingly so out of place at such a moment. Not that I could judge; I didn't know what was going on inside mine either…

Nonetheless, with a fond smile, she exhaled and dragged me close, holding me tight in her arms. "Come on, you big baby… Focus solely on the warmth of my body, and sleep."

"Hmm..."

"There, there… Follow my breathing, relax…"

Caressing me, she began whispering sweet and soothing words. It was an odd, familiar feeling. It felt as if… my mother were cradling me to sleep…

… Ah, well, I did manage to fall asleep in the end, and damn did I sweat in my sleep! We had to clean ourselves all over again! And with the morning, and mid-afternoon, gone just like that, we enjoyed a pleasant late lunch at that cozy place of that quiet town, in our warm room. We simply had a good time together, and as evening fell, since I was feeling a lot better both physically and mentally, we went for a walk in the park. Finally, when darkness surrounded us... it was time.

"Do you know... the Silver Witch?" I asked her, distancing myself and looking right into her eyes.

Crimson nonchalantly placed her hand on her hips, shaking her head. "Doesn't ring a bell."

"I'm... her daughter," I filled in. "She was a powerful libromancer, full of secrets, and... as much as I despise the thought of it, I'm still trying to uncover them..."

"That's perfect," she quipped with a smile. "We could ask my mother. She's knowledgeable, especially when she was in her heyday."

"Before that, there's something else you must know about me."

"What is it?"

"... Bianca."

And as her name left my mouth, she... the demon manifested behind me, along with the abnormal chill.

"She's my demon," I began, clasping my hand behind my back, almost as if embarrassed. "And to unlock new spells... I have to feed seven human hearts, souls... to her."

Why did the wind have to pick up at such a moment, making my scene even more dramatic? And I didn't even plan any of that. Truly, I didn't mean to create such an atmosphere; I just wanted to tell her the truth. She deserved it for all the things she'd done for me.

Better avoid the part where I have to die. After all, my mother once said that when two people truly love each other, the other one would be sad to see the one they love succumb. So, a little omission could only do good, for both of us.

Would she hate me now for showing her this? Would her opinion change? Who knows... but I was ready to accept it.

Would she attack me? Maybe... even then, I was ready to kill her. Though, at this point, that would've probably made me sad.

Either way, this was nothing but a test... a test to know if I could truly, and fully, trust her. No secrets in love, in true love. I wanted to know if I could use Crimson, if I could rely on her, now more than ever. I needed it. And this... was the best way to do so.

"Feed human hearts...?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Bracing for her reaction, I nodded.

She stood still, her eyes slightly softening, her mouth twitching, uncertain whether to speak. Slowly, her hand reached up to her hair and... she laughed. She laughed; a full, hearty laugh that completely filled the air around us, leaving me utterly confused.

As her laugh subsided, with arms stretched wide, she grinned at me. "I was so right about you..."

I blinked, perplexed. "What?"

"You never cease to surprise me," she said, stepping closer, her hands cupping my cheeks. "Such a unique power... Only you could have such fascinating magic."

"Huh... thanks?" I murmured, my voice slightly muffled by her hands, holding my face tight. I couldn't tell if that was a compliment.

"You look surprised," she commented with a smirk. "Were you scared of telling me this?"

"Well... yes?"

Giggling, she pulled me into a kiss. "I've told you already... I love you, Snowflake. And this... this only makes you more interesting. You really are a box full of surprises. Tasty... surprises."

She... really accepted that? She... accepted it, just like that... She truly accepted me for what I was: an assassin; a complicated mess who had to deal with a demon, a daughter seeking to uncover who her mother was... She fully accepted me...

"Okay..."

She squeezed harder, surely finding my squished face amusing. "And such a cutie."

A soft chuckle escaped me at that. "Okay..."

"Do you feel more relieved now that you've told me everything?" she gently asked.

I nodded, feeling an unexpected warmth on my cheeks. My hair got playfully ruffled in return.

"That's good. So, what do you want to do now?"

"Well, first of all... Disappear, demon."

Bianca faded away, and with the chill lifting as if it had never been there, we continued with our night. Finally, after some days, we headed to her house...

... The journey to Crimson's parents' house was fairly smooth. The road stretched on, winding through forests and fields, while the scenery shifted from the rustic colors of the town to the quiet tones of the countryside.

During the journey, my codex underwent some more changes... its cover changed to a combination of white and purple; something never seen before. And, at the same time, from time to time... I could see them again... the demons; the shadows of the dead, the dark, transparent anthropomorphic figures that once haunted my world.

Not only could I see them, I... could hear them, too; laments, screams, echoes... And, if I focused hard enough, I could also choose to...

So, I drowned it all. Turning a blind eye, I ignored the elephant in the room, and decided to go on with my journey…

Besides that, at some point, I wanted to feed my demon again. Crimson wished to witness it, and I accepted her request. One night, we met a traveler along the way, and I used him. His heart was torn away from him, leaving nothing but blood and a hollow shell behind.

Crimson sat on her summon, smiling softly; her legs crossed, her head resting on the palm of her hand. "Fascinating..."

I just stared at her, and reciprocated the smile. She had just watched me kill a man... she's basically my partner in crime, my alibi... And, I don't know why, but that... gave me a weird sense of peace, a warmth through my chest...

She hopped off her summon, letting it fade away in flames before resting her arms on my shoulders. "Do you want to grab a bite? There's a nice place around here."

I nodded. "Sure."

"Then, let's go," she said, slapping my butt before walking ahead.

I flinched and almost gasped at the unexpected gesture. Still, shortly after, I gave her a playful kick in return.

She retaliated with another slap, way harder than the previous one, and ran off with a smug smile on her face, leaving behind a laugh. I chased after her to get my revenge.

The days that followed passed in a blur, filled with conversations, murders to feed a demon, shared meals... and some more nightmares, but also comfort. Occasionally, we would stop at small inns or camp under the stars.

Each day brought us closer to our destination, and finally, after a long time, reaching the top of a hill, we saw it: Crimson's house. It stood at the end of a gravel path, quite isolated, illuminated by the soft light of the setting sun. It was big, with a cozy, luxurious yet welcoming look.

"Are you ready to meet my family?" she asked, side-eyeing me.

I nodded. "I'm ready."

So, we made our way down the gravel path. Crimson dismounted first, her boots crunching on the gravel as she turned to help me down. She then walked towards the door. "Welcome to my home, then."