“Do I even get a choice in the matter?” Envy confronted him with hands on her generous hips.
Exill was channelling mana through the runic throwing bones for the third time that evening, and he replied offhandedly, “Actually you do, you can continue to stay here and pay rent out of your own earnings. Honestly, I think it would be better that way.”
He knew she was making good money, not just from exploring the Labyrinth, but by escorting the sons of rich merchants and nobles in what he dubbed – guided safaris. Her indifferent, no-nonsense attitude had garnered some repeat clients.
Having obtained Luna’s permission to bring Envy along, the matter should have been straightforward. Although she no longer directed her murderous intent at him, the same couldn’t be guaranteed about Luna. Their first face-to-face interaction downstairs in this very Inn had not been a great first introduction.
The Vampire shot him a guarded look while calculating her finances. ‘I’ve saved up 300 Denars towards the sword I want, not to mention the buckler also needs upgrading…’ Envy sullenly realized that independence quickly grew expensive. Instead, she decided to shift the blame, but also prod him for something she never understood.
“Tch. Why did you go through such lengths to buy me if you were going to be such a miserly virgin?”
Exill snorted in response, distracted by the runic divination providing fragmented answers. The impression so far was that Fate was ambivalent about their move to Savta’s clinic.
Turning to Envy in open mockery, he blurted “Did you look at yourself in a mirror? Not willing to spend your own money but happy to spend others? Why don’t you ask one of those rich merchants you adventure with for a small home and living stipend?”
“You mean sell myself?” her voice dropped several degrees.
Exill stopped tidying away the bones and rewound what he just said and came to a slow realization, ‘Why did I say that, and why did it come out so bitter?’ he thought.
“I’m sorry… I should not have said that.”
Envy approached and leaned on him from behind while he was seated at the desk, her pointed elbows digging painfully into his shoulder. She was incredibly offended… and also mildly amused, “Are you actually… jealous, that I hang out with strong, handsome rich men?”
“Wha-?”
Envy cut him off as she began to pluck loose strands of his hair, “How do you think I feel, watching my food wanting to move in with a horny elf maiden?”
Exill was confused. This was a new development. Frankly, he didn’t know how to feel about being described as ‘her food’. This only reinforced his worry that the two women would mix just as well as oil and water.
“What, you want me to promise I will remain a virgin?” he asked incredulously.
“No, don’t flatter yourself.” She dismissed him easily. However, upon seeing the suspicion and doubt in his eyes, made a minor concession:
“And you don’t have to worry about me harming your sweetheart…” she hesitated, as if admitting something distasteful, “I am the slave of a guest, and I know my place… I won’t do anything to get you kicked out.”
‘Does she really not want to spend money getting her own place?’ he wondered incredulously. This was the first time he had seen contriteness in the prideful vampire. Perhaps he was moved by this, but he changed his mind against his better judgement.
“Alright, we’ll move in together tomorrow.”
“On one condition.” Envy raised a determined finger, “I want you to stop treating me like an animal, and let me feed in bed. Stop acting like I’m going to make a mess every time.”
Inwardly grumbling, Exill quietly acquiesced. It was the one mistake she had made that he could possibly tease her about, but the fact she felt he was treating her like an animal changed his mind.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“Fine, I’ll give you a chance.” Rolling up his sleeve, he left the stool and moved to bed. ‘She better not make a mess on the last night of our stay.’ Lowering himself onto the mattress, he lay back, left arm splayed to his side.
She usually fed laying on her stomach propped up on her elbows, but today she had her back to him, resting her head against his firm biceps. It was more comfortable this way, and it had the added bonus that she didn’t need to look him in the eyes.
Envy lifted his forearm and bit in, squirming in quiet pleasure as his precious lifeblood trickled into her mouth. Looking at her vulnerable form from behind, she could almost be described as... normal.
‘Oh, hell no.’ He yanked back the unbidden hand that had risen to stroke Envy’s crimson hair, gleaming enticingly in the lamplight.
You needed a death wish to touch the Vampire without permission, and he had heard from Iris that already two mercenaries had broken their fingers after wandering hands ventured where they shouldn’t.
Exill suppressed a shiver, closing his eyes and tried to go to sleep.
***
The two set out the next morning with all their belongings in tow. The Innkeeper silently nodded as he accepted the room key, slipping it into an apron pocket.
Exill stood still for a moment, unsure how to say goodbye a second time. The Innkeeper had been more than generous, allowing him to run up a tab while he was low on funds. Noticing his awkwardness, the Innkeeper let out a slow breath of smoke and said the words on both their minds.
“No one comes to the Sundry Inn because they want to Witchdoctor, but you and your companion are always welcome back if you have nowhere else to go.”
“Thank you.” Exill suppressed the lump forming in the back of his throat. Seared vividly in his memory was the night he had dragged the emaciated Vampire to the Inn. It had been the lowest point in his life. The tangible sense of regret, and the feeling that he didn’t deserve nice things... looking back on it all, it had felt like a train wreck in slow motion.
“I’ll drop by again.” he lied. The rooms here were terrible and the clientele atrocious, the only redeeming factor was the food; yet it brought a strange comfort to know there was a place waiting for him, and for a brief moment, it had felt like home.
He turned back one last time to see the Innkeeper, face half shadowed under the eaves of the morning ray, raise a hand in one last goodbye.
They travelled by side streets, avoiding the main thoroughfares because it was busy and filled with pickpockets. Exill reflected on the irony that he felt safer in these claustrophobic alleyways, a far cry from when he first arrived at Ark.
Soon, they approached Savta’s clinic, the two-storey building stood out from the rest of the street thanks to the light blue painted façade framed between dark aged timber supports. He knocked on the door twice, with Envy behind him wearing a rare apprehensive look. The door quickly opened, and a beaming Luna greeted him with a hug.
“You came!”
The Healer detached her delicate frame from Exill and only then recognized Envy, her eyes losing some of their kind warmth, “I believe we have met before, though we haven’t been introduced. I’m Luna, healer of Savta’s clinic.”
“I’m Envy, his slave” she replied warily.
They stood in awkward silence until Exill took the initiative to usher everyone inside.
“I’ve already cleaned out my old room and moved into Nana’s. The new mattress will be delivered in the afternoon, but I will need help taking it upstairs.”
Exill nodded as he absorbed Luna’s report. He pointed to the ladder leading up to the attic, smiling while tugging at Envy’s sleeve.
“Your room is up that way and it’s surprisingly spacious. You finally have your own bed!”
“Did the room in your Inn… only have one bed?” Luna asked, troubled by what it implied.
Envy saw an opportunity to put this horny elf in her place. She wrapped her arm around Exill’s and drew him closer, staring down at the maiden as she matter-of-factly responded to the question.
“Yes, we slept together every night. He would sometimes stroke my hair… and make me wash the sheets from all the… bodily fluids I spilt.”
Exill choked in disbelief.
“Blood! With the Spirit as my witness it was blood, heavens could you be more misleading, and when did I even stroke your hair?!” he spluttered, thoroughly ashamed. However, he saw Luna’s confusion only deepen as she imagined why two people might spill blood while in bed.
“I’m sorry I forgot to tell you, Envy is a Vampire, and she can only feed on the blood of virgins who are stronger than her.”
“Again, don’t flatter yourself. I can and currently do feed on those weaker than me. It just takes a lot more to fill me up. You have to get much stronger… if you want to satisfy me.” Envy pinched his cheek, turning it red.
Meanwhile, Luna was starting to experience a headache as she absorbed all this information, “So you slept together in the same bed but haven’t had se- I mean, you haven’t done… lewd things. You just fed her your blood?”
Envy’s gaze looked predatory as her amber eyes lit up with a tinge of red. She tightened her grip on Exill’s arm. “I’ve felt something hard press against me while I was feeding… but you are right, he was the perfect gentleman.”
Luna blinked.
Exill gritted his teeth as he led the she-demon downstairs. The way she manipulated the truth was too cunning! She had conveniently left out all the things she had done, painting him as some kind of horndog.
“She has left out some important details. We need to go to the Labyrinth and we’re running late, I’ll see you around lunch.”
“I look forward to hearing your… explanations.” Luna said coldly as she closed the door on them. She was already regretting the decision to invite the Vampire to her home and workplace.