Lucius walks toward the portal, pausing briefly and then starting again. He closes his eyes and opens them again.
A large mansion stands tall before him and a butler awaits him at the door. A man with sharp obsidian hair; tall and thin with small eyes. Lucius paused for a moment, entranced by the way the butler's eyes stood on his face, as it began to remind him of something. An animal he had seen on the internet. As he stood looking at the butler it was as though the butler's body had become hazy like black smoke and suddenly Lucius began seeing a paw, claws, and sharp teeth emerge with black stripes following. And there the image was, right in front of him; a tiger, large and ominous, but that tiger was imitating a man.
Lucius felt an intense sickness well deep within his stomach.
This guy can't be human. This guy is scarier than the two maids, let alone five.
"Greetings young master." The butler smiled sharply.
He bowed briefly and motioned Lucius to enter.
The mansion gate was open for his arrival.
Lucius began walking in noticing how neat the garden and bushes were. But the color of the mansion seemed dark and gloomy.
It felt like walking into a haunted house. You're curious about what you'll find, but afraid that whatever is in the house finds you first.
After entering, he noticed the dim lit chandeliers, paintings of angels spread along the walls, and two large staircases with exquisite circular design that lead to the second floor.
Pictures of angels feel so taboo to be in a place like this, Lucius thought.
DUM! The butler shuts the door behind them.
"Please make your way to the dining room young master, your mother awaits you."
Just before entering the room, Lucius fell to his knees. Shock flashed across his face as his body moved on its own. He didn't think to do it, and he didn't want to either.
The woman let out a slight laugh "My poor child. You forget that you are royalty, do not prostrate yourself. Rise up."
Lucius stood, but he couldn't shake the fear that he felt. Though she too looked human, It was as though he was locked in a cage with a monster; a monster with so many claws, legs, arms, heads, and teeth, that his brain couldn't form a definite image. "It would be better to kill yourself that to fight a monster like that.", he thought.
She sat at the end of the long table. With her eyes rested shut and head slightly tilted back as though she were sleeping. Her hair is a short chin length bob. Looking closely I can see that her hair isn't actually black, but more of a very dark blue.
"What troubles you, Lucius. Have you not been eating?"
I—
"Please excuse me Lady Lucile, his servants wished for me to inform you on his current being. They claim he is currently suffering from amnesia or a spell of some kind that had been cast upon him."
Lucius's mind is puzzled.
"If they are monsters, I must be a monster too. Then why do I feel so small in their presence? What kind of monster am I? Am I the weakest?
Lady Lucile approaches Lucius. She palms the sides of Lucius's face with a gentle smile and begins massaging his cheeks. A sudden rush of emotion overtook Lucius and tears began to follow; slowly streaming down to his chin, and dripping onto his shoes.
I can't feel my heartbeat; I don't feel afraid anymore. In this world—
Lucius suddenly pushes her away. Whether it was an instinctive urge or a childish protection of his idea of masculinity, he responded aggressively yet unintentionally.
Lucius's eyes stared off; with his face in shock as he questioned why he did that. A sudden fear began to creep over him again, as he began to doubt the nature of his actions. Dread coursed through his veins as he pondered his sudden reaction. Though this is not the world he once knew, Lucius knew at his core; that this was no ordinary woman he pushed.
The woman giggled softly with her eyes shut. Lucius began to step back subconsciously until he bumped into the butler briefly. His face slightly distorted as he noticed sweat dripping from the butler's forehead.
Looking back at Lucile he looked closer at her lips and noticed the odd curve of her smile, that seemed to stretch a bit too far across her face.
"I'm sorry!" He said as he began hugging her waist.
A sudden rush of calm came over him as she gently rubbed his head.
I have no idea why I'm reacting like this. This isn't me, this isn't the me I know. But this woman, she is my.. my mother.
Lucius, it's ok. I know you are unfamiliar with this world.
Wait, does she know? Did I really get isekai'd?
My son, remember this and listen very carefully; you must consume human blood to survive. If you do not, you will become human and die. If you do not consume blood within 3 days you will die.
I wonder what she means by die. I'm not sure how becoming human causes me to die.
Do not fear Lucius, I know you will remember and do well to stay healthy. As you recover, please do not go outside our estates. If the humans believe they have weakened you, they will be more inclined to go on the offensive against us.
"We are at war with humans?"
No, not all of them, but against the ones who seek to eradicate us. They are known as the Dark Angels. No, they are not literal Angels, but humans who use alchemy, machinery, and other forms of trickery, to destroy us.
How many are there?
They are large as a whole, but the individual forces are small. We have their locations but I am not sure striking at them is the way to go. If we kill them all, it will be no fun anymore.
Wha, what did she just say? Fun? Is this just a game to her? Is she only keeping them around for the fun..of war? just what kind of world is this? Are we villains who don't crush the opponent because otherwise we would be bored?
Why the long face Lucius? Do you no longer take pleasure in humans? Well I assume so, it is only natural after all, everything concerning them has an expiration date, so they should as well.
Lucius stood idly as she spoke, carefully listening to each word.
Please sit down Lucius. There is no need for us to keep standing, after all, you are unwell.
Lucile returned to her seat and Lucius had begun moving to the opposite end of the table.
LUCIUS!
His heart missed a beat.
COME SIT BY ME, she demanded.
Lucius sat in one of the two chairs nearest to her, with his posture slightly turned away from her.
I'm sorry. She said,
Lucius lifted his eyes towards her direction.
My son, I know you are unwell at the moment. So if you have any questions, please ask them. I can see that something troubles you. Go ahead, ask your questions— perhaps this may restore you to better health.
Lucius opened his mouth partly, shut it, then turned his eyes away.
I'm the villain of this story. No, we're the villains of this story. And if I am the bad guy, does it matter to do good? I don't want to kill any humans for war or blood. It'd be more interesting to recruit them, rather than fight with them all the time. I think the fighting could be fun for a bit, but the alchemy stuff she mentioned is more interesting. I wonder what humans in this world are capable of.
Lucile's gaze narrowed, and her head became heavy in her hand. Lucius? Do you not know that humans fear you?
His eyes widened.
As I have mentioned to you before Lucius, I know that you are unfamiliar with this world. So go on and ask your questions.
I want— I want to recruit some humans.
Lucile rested back in her seat. Go on, explain— carefully.
If humans possess knowledge we do not, it would be good to recruit them to teach it to us so we can know it as well.
HAHAHA, my boy, we are the strongest among them. What need do we have for their knowledge?
Humans can be very crafty. They may not be as threatening now, but they could be later, if they advance too far into their— their tools of war.
Lucile hunched over the table, "You know Lucius, I find it so odd that you would use the word recruit, when you could simply enslave them."
Lucius stared at the table, stuttering a bit as he spoke. To be honest— I don't want to fight with the humans and I don't want to make them my slaves. I know that we are different but I think we should find—
Peace? Is peace what you want, Lucius?
I think that would be—
"That's quite enough." Lucile sat back in her chair. "I was once like you, Lucius. Do you remember my scarlet eyes Lucius?"
Lucius looked at her eyes.
I take it that you do not remember, had you remembered you would have hesitated a bit, before looking me in the eyes. My son, why don't you go back to your estate and get some rest? Don't let your heart be troubled by these things.
Lucius exhaled out his mouth silently, with his eyes heavy; and his shoulders low.
Oto, please help Lucius to the doorway, I'm sure he is exhausted.
Oto helped Lucius up from the table guiding him by the arm.
Oto?
Yes madam.
Let his servants know that he must drink blood. I will not suffer my son to be in a condition like this again. I grant them permission to use force if necessary.
Understood.
A swift breeze touches Oto and Lucius. Lucius raises his head with hollow eyes. Two of Lucius's maids stood by a large portal awaiting him. Oto gave Lucius to one of the maids and motioned the other to come near. Lucius' eyes were heavy as he saw Oto's lips pressed against the maids ear.
Lucius's head shot up again after he began closing his eyes. Then he felt a soft touch graze his head. Like a small bird brushing against his head.
"It's ok master Lucius. Just rest and let me worry about everything okay".
He closed his eyes again, falling into the world of darkness; that is a dream.