He had never expected Ilsa's house to be in a place like this. Isn't this just a cave? Tom thought in confusion as he followed behind Ilsa. I guess this vampire palace isn't all that impressive, huh?

Like many others, Tom had always believed vampires to be nothing more than creatures of myth. In the tales spun by storytellers, these mysterious beings had terrifying faces, living in castles atop steep cliffs, rarely seen by others, and every outing was said to end in a bloodbath. Maybe that's just literary invention, Tom thought sullenly as Ilsa cleared away the dead branches blocking the cave entrance. At least the vampire I met is a girl, and she's even more beautiful than most humans!

"This is my home," Ilsa said proudly after lighting a candle, inviting Tom inside. In reality, it was just a small cave at the bottom of a slope, a cramped space only a few meters wide and filled with the scent of wild beasts. After laying down a mattress, there wasn't much room left to move around. However, Tom noticed that Ilsa had tidied it up quite neatly, with clothes and books stacked in categories, making the place seem surprisingly orderly. "You really seem to enjoy... reading?"

"Everyone has their boring moments," Ilsa replied, already lying on the mattress with her legs crossed, her skirt sliding up to her thighs. "Now that you're here to keep me company, I can read a little less." She stuck out her tongue playfully.

Tom carefully sat down next to her, doing his best to avoid looking at her legs. "I thought you lived with your family."

"I do have family, but they don't live here." The vampire girl rested her hands behind her head. "I made a mistake and got kicked out. Since then, I've had to rely on myself. Just think of me as an orphan."

Orphan... The word struck a chord in Tom. "What did you do?" he asked tentatively. "Isn't it illegal to just throw your child out like that?"

"Tell that to the lord of Cazarburgh." Ilsa sneered. "All I did was get a little too close to a boy. Did that really warrant such a fuss?"

"Close?" Tom's mind raced. "Wait, Ilsa, you didn't...?"

"Of course not! Who do you think I am?" Scaring Tom was one of Ilsa's greatest joys. "I just held his hand and gave him a kiss." She reached out and grabbed Tom's wrist, pulling him onto her. The move took Tom by surprise, and he had to brace himself against the mattress to avoid collapsing on top of her. Their noses were almost touching.

The fire was warm.

"Ilsa... you..." Tom stammered.

"He was younger than you and nowhere near as strong..." Somehow, Ilsa's hands had already found their way to Tom's waist, feeling the muscles along his sides. Among his peers, Tom's physique was exceptional; years of physical labor had made him muscular, and his face carried a rugged charm that wasn't lost on the village girls. "Hey, handsome." Ilsa leaned in closer, her lips brushing against the stubble on his cheek. "You must have had plenty of girls chasing after you, right?"

"Ilsa..." His face flushed, and his breathing became labored. "Can we... just talk?"

"I knew it. Lots of girls must've been after you." Ilsa ignored his plea, her hand moving toward his groin. "At least," she whispered in his ear, "two of them are in the forest right now, following you."

In that moment, Tom nearly stopped breathing. His head buzzed. "Two people... who?!"

He instinctively tried to pull away from Ilsa, but found himself pinned down by the seemingly fragile girl, unable to move. "The two chasing you—a skinny one and a fat one—they've already entered the forest, and they're not far from here." Tom's pupils dilated in shock; he hadn't expected those two to have the audacity to follow him into the Blood-Deserve Forest. "Who are they?"

"...Creditors." At this point, there was no choice but to lie, hoping she'd believe it. "They're the ones who killed my family. They want to capture me and sell me into slavery. They won't leave me alone!"

Ilsa gently stroked his back, soothing his anxiety. "Is that so? How awful," she murmured with a smile. "One of them is an unlanded knight with the Baron of Eaststone's crest on his shield. The other is a boy, fat as a pig, sweating more than he pees. Am I really supposed to believe these two killed your parents?" The vampire narrowed her eyes. "I'd sooner believe you're the baron's illegitimate son, and his wife sent them to silence you."

Before Tom could respond, she gave him a light shove, sending him sprawling several meters away. He landed with a thud on the ground. "You didn't think I was joking, did you?" Ilsa stood up, arms crossed, looking down at Tom with a gaze that could freeze oceans. "Every creature in this forest is my eyes and ears, from the lowest worm to the highest Advance Vampire. I am the queen of this forest. When we were outside, your actions impressed me, even won my favor. But that doesn't mean I'll forgive you for lying to me." She pointed her finger at him. "I'll give you one more chance, Tom. Who are those two people?"

Tom knew she wasn't bluffing. Even he hadn't realized those two had already entered the forest. The weight of her silence was heavier than any threat. He sat there, eyes reddening, utterly humiliated by the thought of crying in front of her. "I... I'm sorry," he muttered, turning his face away. "I didn't mean to lie..."

For most, this would've been terrifying enough to send them running in panic. The fact that he could still speak coherently was rather impressive. "Go on."

"Those two are working for the Baron of Eaststone." Tom took a deep breath before continuing. "They're after me because they want to drag me back and hand me over to the baron. That caravan massacre you mentioned—the one the merchant talked about—that was my family. After my parents were killed by the creditors, another family from Eaststone took me in because I was good at physical labor. After dividing up my family's estate, the creditors wanted more, so they came for me. My foster parents refused to hand me over—they were always good to me... until that one night last month. Bandits broke in while we were asleep, trying to capture me. My foster parents fought back..." He clenched his fists, his expression twisted in pain. "I shouldn't have been sleeping in the basement!" He slammed his fist into the stone wall, his face contorted with anguish. "The next morning, I found them... their throats slit! Those bastards..."

Tom's tearful monologue softened Ilsa's demeanor. She crouched down, not quite getting closer, but reducing the emotional distance. "And now they're chasing you because...?"

"Because they're incompetent!" he roared, glaring at her with bloodshot eyes. "The real killers fled overnight, and the baron's men move slower than snails! Two murders in Eaststone, and the baron has to report to Queen of Mego—especially with the Godma Empire looming closer by the day. The quicker they close the case, the better. So, I became their scapegoat! They accused me of killing for greed, branding me a monster who would murder for money! No one stood up for me, so... so..." He grabbed at his chest, unable to continue.

"The merchants said the family left behind an orphan. I thought that was you," Ilsa said softly, her voice returning to its usual playful tone.

"That was a seven-year-old boy." Tom coughed, struggling to breathe. "He was either suffering from a cold or something else, always feverish and delirious. All he heard that night were vague sounds of fighting. His testimony wasn't enough to clear me. That gave those bastards the perfect opportunity to pin everything on me!"

Ilsa rested her chin in her hand, elbow on her knee, watching Tom intently, observing his every move. "What a tragedy," she commented.

"I kept it from you to avoid dragging you into this." Tom wiped his tears, looking at Ilsa with sincere eyes. "You have no idea how many wrongful convictions the baron's men have caused. Their crimes are unspeakable. Do you know where they are?"

"Not far from here."

"Damn them!" Tom cursed, jumping to his feet. "I need to get out of here before they find this place!"

"No need to panic, Tom." Ilsa rose slowly as well. "I have ways to ensure they won't find this cave. Like I said, I'm the queen of this forest."

A flicker of something dark flashed in Tom's eyes. "Really?" he asked, overjoyed. "You can send your Advance Vampires to take care of them, right?"

"Don't be foolish." Ilsa frowned. "They're the baron's men. Those creatures may be dumb, but they're not dumb enough to provoke the lord of Eaststone." The dark gleam in Tom's eyes faded as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by disappointment. "But I can make sure they keep circling the area without ever finding this cave." She smiled mischievously. "Trust me."

"You... really want me to stay here?" He could hardly believe it. "Even though I might bring danger?"

"I'm bored on my own." Ilsa spread her arms and twirled on her toes. "This place is small, I've read most of the books, and it's nice to have someone I can talk to. Why not have some company?" She leaned toward him, and though Tom wanted to step back, his reason won out over fear. "You're the only one who's not afraid of me, who'll even hug me." She pressed her cheek against his chest, placing her hands around him. "And coincidentally, I trust you." Before he knew it, Ilsa had lifted his shirt, preparing to undress him. "Even if it's just for a little while, stay with me, will you?"

Her voice was so soft, and her blushing face so endearing. Tom couldn't control himself as she undressed him. He revealed his torso, but instead of the smooth, strong body Ilsa had imagined, it was marred with bruises, cuts, and scars, leaving no patch of unblemished skin. "Creditors did this," he explained before she could ask. "They beat me up that night."

Ilsa said nothing. She pressed her full lips to the scars on his chest, then embraced him for a few seconds before rolling over and swapping places with him. With a light push, Tom was sent sprawling back onto the mattress like a piece of cake knocked off a table. He was about to protest when the sight of Ilsa undressing left him speechless. "Ilsa..."

"Listen," she said, kicking her white dress aside and revealing her perfect body in the glow of the fire. "You've told me your secret, so I believe you trust me completely, Tom. Now, I want to share my secret with you—a secret no one else knows. Not even my parents. Can I trust you, Tom?"

Tom blinked and nodded. "I would never betray you, Ilsa."

She smiled faintly. "Good." She said, "First, you need to know that Advance Vampires have overcome their craving for human blood. We can live without drinking blood at all, so you're safe. I won't harm you. Second, all Advance Vampires live among humans, and under normal circumstances, you wouldn't be able to tell us apart. Only when we hunt or feel threatened do we shift into our vampire forms."

Tom swallowed nervously.

"But the vampire form isn't something we can use at will. To transform, we must call out our own names and reconnect with our true selves. My vampire form... has never been shown to anyone, not even my parents. You're the first, Tom. Watch closely."

That was the first time Tom learned her full name: Ilsa Glory. As she spoke her name aloud, Tom watched, stunned, as her body began to change. Dark purple veins spread out from her heart, coursing across her entire body. Her blood rushed up her neck, flooding her eyes, transforming her into something far removed from the beautiful young girl she had been just moments ago. Her eyes, now a deep purple-red, would send even the fiercest beasts fleeing. Her nails elongated, dripping with the stifling scent of vampire blood. But the most astonishing sight was the two hand-like white bones that sprouted from her back, thin red membranes stretched between them. "W-wings?"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Winghands," Ilsa·Glory said softly, her winghands stirring a cool breeze. The wings were a delicate pink, not as pale as her skin, and the membranes were webbed with pulsating dark purple veins. "This is my vampire form. Do you like it?"

No sane person could look at Ilsa in her vampire form and find her "beautiful." "It's... impressive," Tom managed to squeeze out through clenched teeth.

"Ha, 'impressive!'" With a flick of her wrist, the wings and purple veins vanished, and she reverted back to the playful girl from the forest. "I can't believe you thought of that word. Must've been hard." She bounded back onto the mattress, curling up beside Tom, who resisted the urge to retreat to the corner a second time. Smiling, she gave him a teasing look. "I've told you my greatest secret."

"Thank you for trusting me," Tom said after a moment of thought. "Does that transformation really require you to say your name?"

"Yes, and I hate it." Ilsa admitted, "We bloodlines have to speak our names to shift, just like how mages chant spells. Otherwise, we're just as weak as humans, out of breath after carrying a bucket of water. And every transformation takes a lot of energy. Even that brief shift just now has left me feeling sleepy..." She yawned. "I only showed you because I trust you. There's not much to eat here, so I'll need to rest and recover for a day or two before I can transform again... Don't blame me if you didn't see enough."

She scooted closer to Tom again, resting her head on his chest. At first, Tom hesitated, but eventually, he reached out and stroked her hair. She purred contentedly, like a little wildcat enjoying a grooming. For a brief, peaceful moment, neither of them spoke, enjoying the calm.

"What happens if a vampire drinks someone's blood?"

Ilsa looked up at him, curious. "Why do you ask?"

"Would they turn into a vampire?"

She chuckled. "Of course not. It's not that easy to join the bloodline. Aside from normal childbirth, there's no other way. The fate of someone whose blood is drained depends on the vampire's conscience. Most people are drained dry, but if it's just a few sips, it only causes anemia."

Tom hesitated, his heart racing. Ilsa could hear it. "What is it?"

He took a moment before speaking. "Would you... want to drink my blood?"

Tom had never imagined he would ask such a question—it felt like offering himself to a predator. "Are you crazy?" she asked.

"I just... want to repay you." Tom cleared his throat, trying to shake off his nerves. "Out there, you gave me a chance to escape those goons. Here, you've given me a second chance, trusted me, and shared your secret... all you've asked for in return is companionship. I feel like I owe you..." He placed his hand on Ilsa's shoulder, pulling her closer. "If my blood can satisfy your hunger, I'd gladly offer it. Can I trust you, Ilsa? Trust that you won't turn me into... a husk?"

The silence stretched on, Tom anxiously awaiting her response. Finally, she whispered, "...You fool. Of course I wouldn't hurt you."

Tom watched as she straddled him, her slender hands cupping his face. "To be honest, I've wanted to taste your blood since I first smelled it," she confessed with a shy smile. "Ever since you entered the forest, I've been... resisting." She leaned closer to his neck. "Don't underestimate me—I can hold back, but I didn't expect you to offer it willingly..." As she approached his artery, Ilsa took a deep breath, savoring the scent. "Just a small sip, okay?" she asked, fighting the urge to pierce his skin with her fangs. "I'll be gentle, just a little, and you'll be fine, handsome."

"Go ahead." Tom tilted his neck to the side, closing his eyes. "I trust you—"

Before he could finish, Ilsa bit down. The pain shot through him like lightning, piercing his mind. Had he not braced himself, the scream would've escaped his lips. But strangely... the pain didn't last as long as he had expected. After his skin was pierced, the sensation dulled, replaced by a tingling pleasure. It doesn't hurt anymore... Tom thought, glancing at Ilsa. She was lost in the ecstasy of drinking his blood. She's still drinking... but it doesn't hurt. What's... happening? The pleasure rippled through him, numbing his nerves and urging him to surrender to the sensation. Little did he know, Advance Vampires secrete a numbing agent in their saliva during feeding, turning their prey into willing victims. Just as Tom's consciousness began to fade, Ilsa shoved him away.

"Damn it!"

Advance Vampire Ilsa Glory rolled away, her body trembling. "I almost drained you dry..." The vampire girl, grinning with madness, raised her hands, gazing at them as if she could see through to her veins. Inside, Tom's blood was coursing, filling her with indescribable pleasure—far greater than anything else she'd ever felt. From her hair to her fingertips, from her body to her soul, every part of her was consumed by the ecstasy, making her a slave to her desire.

"Blood... is amazing..."

Tom curled up in the corner, clutching his neck. It took him a while to fully recover his senses. He saw Ilsa lying on the ground, limp, with blood still trickling from the corner of her mouth. "Ilsa...?"

"Mmm... blood... I want more..." she murmured, not to Tom, but to her own craving. Ilsa Glory had completely succumbed to a trance.

After some time, Tom, noticing his neck had stopped bleeding, cautiously crawled over to her, gently tapping her arm.

Ilsa Glory, like a child who had eaten her fill, had fallen into a deep, peaceful sleep. succumbed to her trance.

After what felt like forever, Tom, noticing that his neck had stopped bleeding, slowly crawled over to Ilsa and touched her arm.

Ilsa Glory, like a child who had eaten her fill, had fallen into a deep, contented sleep. leaving only a deep well of disappointment. "But I can keep them wandering around the area. They won't find this cave no matter how hard they try." She smiled mischievously. "You can rest easy."

"You... really want me to stay here?" He couldn't believe it. "Even if I might bring danger?"

"I'm bored alone." Ilsa spread her arms wide, twirling around on tiptoe. "This place is small, and I've read most of my books. Having someone I can actually talk to isn't such a bad thing, is it?" She leaned closer to Tom. His instinct was to retreat, but reason overruled his fear. "You're the only one who isn't afraid of me, who even dares to embrace me." She pressed her cheek against his chest, wrapping her arms around him. "And, coincidentally, I trust you, too." During her words, Ilsa had already started lifting Tom's shirt, preparing to remove it. "Just for a little while, will you stay with me?"

Her voice was so soft, her blushing face so irresistibly endearing, that Tom couldn't help but surrender to her. He let her remove his shirt, revealing a body far from the smooth, perfect form she might have imagined. His upper body was covered with bruises and scars, crisscrossing like a patchwork quilt. There wasn't even a palm-sized area of unmarred skin. "The creditors did this." He explained before she could ask. "That night, they gave me a beating before they left."

Ilsa said nothing, only kissing one of the scars on his chest before holding him tightly for a moment. Then she twisted her body, swapping places with Tom. With a light push, he was once again sent tumbling back onto the mattress like a cake being swept off a table. He was about to protest but swallowed his words when he saw Ilsa pulling off her white dress.

"Ilsa..." he muttered.

"Listen," she began, kicking the dress aside, her naked body glowing in the firelight. "You've shared your secret with me. That means you trust me completely, Tom. So, I want to share my secret with you—a secret I've never told anyone else. Can I trust you, Tom?"

He blinked and nodded. "I'd never betray you, Ilsa."

She smiled faintly. "Good," she said. "First, you need to know that Advance Vampires have overcome their need for human blood. We can survive without feeding, so you're perfectly safe. I won't hurt you. Secondly, all Advance Vampires live among humans in disguise. You wouldn't be able to tell us apart under normal circumstances. It's only when we're hunting or threatened that we transform into our vampire form."

He swallowed hard.

"But we can't just transform at will. To do so, a bloodline vampire must invoke their name to find their true self. And my vampire form... no one has ever seen it—not even my parents. You'll be the first, Tom. Watch closely."

That was the first time Tom heard her full name—Ilsa·Glory—and as she spoke it, her body began to undergo a transformation that left Tom dumbfounded. Dark purple veins started to spread from her heart, weaving their way across her entire body. Blood surged to her neck and into her eyes, turning them a deep crimson. She no longer resembled the beautiful young girl she had been moments before. Those blood-red eyes could send even the fiercest of beasts fleeing in terror. Her nails grew longer, dripping with vampire blood that emitted an overwhelming stench. But the most shocking change of all was the emergence of two bony, hand-like structures from Ilsa's back, with thin, reddish membranes stretched between them. "Wings?"

"They're called wing-hands," Ilsa·Glory said softly, fanning them lightly to create a cool breeze. Her wings were pink, less pale than her skin, and crisscrossed with pulsating dark purple veins. "This is my vampire form. Do you like it?"

Anyone in their right mind would struggle to associate Ilsa's vampire form with beauty. "It's... magnificent," Tom said through gritted teeth.

"Haha, magnificent!" She flicked her hand, and the wings and veins vanished as if obeying her command. She returned to her previous form—the clever, charming girl of the forest. "It's impressive that you managed to come up with that word. Must've been tough on you." She quickly climbed onto the mattress and lay down beside Tom, resting her arm beneath her head. For the second time, Tom suppressed the urge to scramble to the far corner of the cave. She smiled and gave him a playful look. "I've already shared my biggest secret with you."

"Thank you for trusting me," Tom said after a moment of thought. "You have to call out your name for it to work?"

"Yes, and I hate that part the most." Ilsa admitted. "We have to call out our names to transform, like mages chanting spells before casting. Without it, we're no different from humans, panting just from carrying a bucket of water. Plus, every transformation drains a lot of energy. Even that short transformation earlier has me feeling sleepy..." She yawned. "I showed it to you because I really trust you. There's not much to eat around here. I need to rest for at least a day or two before I can transform again... If you didn't get enough of a look, don't blame me."

She scooted closer to Tom, resting her head on his chest. At first, Tom hesitated, but eventually, he reached out and stroked her hair. She purred in contentment, like a kitten being gently groomed. For a while, neither of them spoke, both enjoying the peaceful moment.

"What happens if a vampire drinks someone's blood?" Tom asked, breaking the silence.

Ilsa lifted her head, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "Why do you ask?"

"Do they turn into a vampire?"

She chuckled. "Of course not. Joining the bloodline isn't that easy. Aside from normal reproduction, there's no other way. It depends on the vampire's conscience. Most people would end up as dry corpses, but if it's just a few sips, they'll only be left anemic."

Tom seemed hesitant, and Ilsa could hear his heartbeat quicken. "What's on your mind?"

He took a moment before making up his mind. "Would you... want to drink my blood?"

Tom hadn't expected himself to ask such a question. It felt like offering himself to a predator. "Are you crazy?" she asked.

"I just... I want to repay you." Tom cleared his throat, trying to hide his nerves. "You saved me out there from those monsters, and here, you gave me a second chance. You trusted me, shared your secret with me... All you ask for in return is company, but I feel like I owe you... I trust you, Ilsa. I trust you won't drain me dry... Will you?"

There was a long silence as he waited for her response, tension building in the air. "Idiot," she finally muttered. "Of course, I won't hurt you."

Tom watched as she straddled him, her slender hands cupping his face. "To be honest, I've wanted to taste your blood for a while," she admitted with a shy smile. "Ever since you entered the forest, I could smell your scent. I've been... resisting." She moved her face closer to his neck. "Don't underestimate me; I can hold back. I just didn't expect you to offer..." As she neared his artery, Ilsa inhaled deeply, savoring the aroma of his blood. "Just a little sip, okay?" she whispered, barely controlling the urge to sink her fangs into his skin. "I'll be gentle, and I'll only take a little. You'll be fine, handsome."

"Go ahead." Tom tilted his head, exposing his neck. "I trust you—"

Before he could finish, Ilsa bit down, sending a sharp pain shooting through him. It pierced straight to his core, but Tom had been prepared, biting down hard to stifle any scream that might escape. Oddly enough, the pain didn't last as long as he'd feared. After her fangs broke through the skin, it gradually faded, replaced by a numbing pleasure. It doesn't hurt...? Tom glanced at Ilsa, watching as she drank from him with a look of pure ecstasy. She's still drinking... but it doesn't hurt. What's happening? The sensation spread from his neck, rippling through his entire body, numbing his pain and urging him to surrender to the pleasure. He didn't know that Advance Vampires secreted an anesthetic in their saliva, rendering their prey helpless. Just as Tom teetered on the edge of losing consciousness, Ilsa abruptly pushed him away.

"Damn it!"

Ilsa·Glory rolled away, collapsing onto the ground. "I almost drained you..." The vampire's face broke into a crazed smile as she lifted her hands to examine them, as if she could see through her own veins. The heat surged within her, Tom's blood coursing through her, bringing a pleasure far beyond anything she could describe. From the tips of her hair to her fingers, from her body to her very soul, every inch of her being was consumed by the euphoria, leaving her a prisoner to her own desires.

"The blood... it's incredible..."

Tom curled up in the corner, clutching his neck, taking a long time to fully regain his senses. He saw Ilsa lying on the ground, completely drained, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. "Ilsa...?"

"Mmm... blood... I want more..." She didn't respond to Tom; she was answering the call of her own desires. Ilsa·Glory was utterly lost in a delirium.

It was only after Tom confirmed that his neck had stopped bleeding that he slowly crawled over to Ilsa and gently touched her arm.

Ilsa·Glory, like a child who had eaten her fill, was sound asleep.Content is blockedBlood... so good..."

Tom curled up in a corner, clutching his neck. It took a while for him to fully recover. When he looked over, he saw Ilsa lying on the ground, limp and dazed, blood still dripping from the corner of her mouth. "Ilsa...?"

"Mmm... blood... I want more..." She wasn't answering him; she was answering her own desire. Ilsa·Glory had completely succumbed to delirium.

After a long while, once Tom's neck had stopped bleeding, he cautiously crawled over to her and gently touched her arm.

Ilsa·Glory, like a child who had eaten her fill, was sound asleep.