The next morning, Ryder stirred in his bed, muscles pleasantly sore—a rare thing for someone with his strength. Beside him, Psylocke still lay sprawled across the sheets, her pale body half-covered by the dark silken sheets, a faint smirk lingering on her lips even in sleep.
He ran a hand over his own chest, fingers brushing faint claw marks and bruises that hadn't quite healed yet. "Damn… last night was something else," he muttered under his breath.
"This vampire is one wild partner in bed."
With a soft chuckle, he finally swung his legs over the side, rising to stretch. A quick shower later, he stepped out, toweling his hair just as Psylocke began to stir, ruby eyes cracking open to track his movements with lazy, satisfied hunger.
He simply smirked at her, feeling more than ready to start the day—and maybe another round if she felt like it.
Ryder leaned against the doorway, towel still draped around his shoulders, watching as Psylocke finally sat up in bed. The sheets slipped down, baring her flawless pale skin and the enticing curve of her breasts, which rose and fell with each lazy breath. It made his mind flash right back to the wild night before.
But business came first.
"I've got work for you," he said with a faint grin.
Psylocke tilted her head, dark hair spilling over one shoulder, a sly smirk tugging at her lips. "Oh? And what exactly do you want from your new vampire bitch?"
His eyes narrowed with satisfaction at her playful insolence. "Now that I've taken over this place, I need to root out anyone left from the old networks. I want you to oversee it personally—cleanse this territory of any Hydra, Dreykov loyalists, or opportunistic scum who think they can take a piece of my domain."
Psylocke's eyes glowed faintly crimson. "Mmm… so you want me to be your executioner and enforcer. I like that."
Then she stretched lazily, her upper body fully revealed in a slow, tantalizing bloom that made Ryder's thoughts threaten to derail. But he clenched his jaw and focused.
"There's more," he added. "I want you to start developing this region into something stable. Recruit spies, assassins, informants. This is your territory under me now—shape it however you see fit."
She raised a dark eyebrow. "Interesting. And if I want to turn some of them into vampires to serve me directly? Would you allow that?"
Ryder thought for a moment, then shrugged. "You can—but only those who willingly accept it. No mindless thralls. I want loyalty earned, not puppets that crumble without you."
Psylocke laughed softly, eyes glinting with dark delight. "Fair enough. I can respect that rule."
She slipped out of bed, walking past Ryder without a scrap of shame, trailing that faint, tantalizing scent of blood and cold steel.
At the bathroom door, she glanced back at him, a sly smile curling her lips."Why don't you join me?" she purred.
Ryder raised an eyebrow but simply smirked. "Maybe in another moment."
She rolled her eyes with mock impatience and disappeared into the bathroom. He could hear the water running, her soft humming carrying back through the doorway
By afternoon, Ryder left the bed chambers and walked alongside Psylocke through the old compound, which already felt different under her dark, commanding care. He also provided her with the Haki training methods he'd purchased from the system—after all, it would be foolish to hoard such power entirely for himself, especially with a partner like her, someone utterly loyal and bound to him.
Whether she could truly awaken Haki remained to be seen, but if she did, she would become even more of a monster than she already was. That thought alone was enough to bring a dark grin to Ryder's face.
He had already tested her strength firsthand. Not only did she possess all the terrifying psionic abilities of the original Psylocke, but her vampiric side had further enhanced her speed, senses, and reflexes to monstrous levels. Her insane regenerative capabilities alone put her far beyond a normal human—or even a typical mutant like her original counterpart.
But that wasn't the only twist. She wasn't Elizabeth Braddock from another world—she was Melina Braddock, Elizabeth's twin sister in that universe, who had been injected with Dracula venom which turned her into Vampire. That lineage made her even more dangerous, and perhaps, in Ryder's view, even more perfect.
Soon after, Ryder was ready to depart. Psylocke, or rather Melina, walked him out to the front courtyard. The ruins of the old Red Room training grounds stretched behind them, now thrumming with a dark, eager energy under her rule.
She leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss against his lips—cool, faintly tasting of iron—and then smirked."Go on, master of mine. Conquer the rest of the world. I'll handle this corner of it for you."
Ryder chuckled darkly, eyes glinting. "I expect nothing less."
She watched him disappear beyond the compound gates, a faint smile curling her lips. Then she turned back, eyes flashing crimson, her voice echoing with unnatural authority.
"All Black Widows aged twenty and above—assemble in the main hall immediately!"
It didn't take long. Within minutes, dozens of lithe, lethal young women stood before her, disciplined but wary, eyes shifting between each other and the vampiric queen who now ruled them.
Melina let them look. Then she spoke, her tone cool and commanding."From this moment forward, the Red Room as you knew it is dead. This place is mine now—and by extension, it is his. You all will work under me. Your missions, your loyalty, your futures—they belong to me and to our master. Understood?"
There was a ripple of hesitant nods. Some lowered their heads immediately, submitting without question. Others needed a moment longer, but under that crimson gaze, none dared defy her.
Melina's smile was all fangs and dark delight."Good. Now… let's get to work."
Then she added offhandedly, almost playfully, "Also—I can make some of you into vampires. Yes, in case you hadn't figured it out, I am a vampire."
A low ripple of confusion passed through the hall as the Widows glanced at each other, uncertain.
Melina arched a brow, folding her arms under her chest. "What, none of you even know what a vampire is? Haven't you ever read a storybook? Vampires are an ancient, near-extinct race. We're sometimes called 'nobles of the night.'"