"My sisters. They are Sera and Liana. And those two are nurses who volunteered from the same station I work from." He was worried about exposing their identity as they weren't related to him.
Selara nodded once and then, with the quiet authority of one used to being obeyed, she spoke up with a commanding voice, "You belong to me now."
Christopher blinked in disbelief. What did she mean by that? "What?" Since when was it so easy to possess someone? Because she saved them? He was grateful, yes, but he wasn't a commodity that could be owned. Wasn't this a bit too much?
"I need your blood," she spoke up unflinching and with a frigid face, her eyes only burned fiercely. "Two liters of blood every month without failing. That's all I need from you."
The words dropped like stone in water, rippling the still waters, stirring his heart with unknown emotions; they hadn't anticipated this! And they didn't expect this.
"No!" Sera and Liana weren't ready for this exchange and readily shouted. How could they let their brother lose such an amount of blood every month? Could he still be living a normal life if he lost two liters of blood every month?
Selara coldly glared at them; those eyes were scarier and demanded authority. Why did they think they had a say in this? And why would they think they had a right to talk to her? They nervously flinched and immediately hid behind their brother.
"I apologise..." Christopher Parker hurriedly apologized, seeing those ferocious eyes. He knew his siblings were trying to protect him, but with their current situation, they needed this woman more than she would need them.
She waved her hand nonchalantly, "In return, I'll protect you. They and all of you until you are out of this village. My protection is not given freely, you should know that, and I'm not negotiating." Her eyes flicked to the burning ruins. "But you won't survive without it." She could see a wound caused by the wolf's claws.
Christopher's hand instinctively touched his wound. Liana whimpered behind her brother, minimizing her presence, and Sera clung to his side while she let her eyes only peek at that girl in front of them. She looked beautiful and lethal at the same time. She was a fascinating woman.
He heavily swallowed a lump of saliva nervously. As a nurse, he knew what it was like to lose two litres of blood every month. Would he still be a healthy human? "You want to feed on me?" Could there be no other options?
"Not that I want," Selara spoke up, stepping closer, "It's what I need. You're my cure. I don't have a choice! Or do you think I do?" Yes, this was a human, someone beneath her class, and furthermore, what infuriated the situation was that he was a human, a mere human.
The silence thickened as everyone was consumed by thoughts. Selara was wondering why the rogues were coming over to the village inhabited by humans to hunt them down. She had always restrained them, but who was leading all these rogue attacks?
Christopher Parker gazed at his siblings and the two frightened nurses, he didn't seem to have a choice. He couldn't watch them perish like that while he could save them.
"I'll do it." He didn't have a choice and could no longer hesitate.
Selara stood inches away now, her voice held a velvet snarl. "Then come with me immediately."
He stared at her, equal parts terrified and drawn in. His body was resistant and at the same time lured by her.
"You are mine now," she whispered before walking ahead, through the long pathway, and they followed behind her. This was her territory, and she knew how to get back to her fortress Castle.
The stronghold loomed from the earth like a beast carved in stone, its towers kissed by moonlight that illustrated its majestic, towering Castle that held immense power, its gates warded by ancient runes that pulsed faintly as Selara crossed the threshold. Christopher Parker, assisted by his siblings, stumbled just behind her.
They were both exhausted from the long distance of walking and the hurried pace. Selara walked faster, and to catch up in these foreign territories, they had to run after her.
No matter how exhausted they were, they didn't dare complain. Christopher Parker was heavily panting, bleeding, and felt like he would crash out at any minute.
His heart calmed down, seeing they were somewhere safe, the forest had turned silent behind them, and the rustling of leaves had quieted. The fortress entrance gates closed with a growl of old magic.
She led them through winding, torchlight corridors that pulsed with heat and power, like the heart of some buried god. From the place and aura, you could tell she was someone that they couldn't go up against.
Selara glanced back once through the majestic corridors that were full of architectural ruins. "You are all still standing. That's something." Selara didn't know that the urge to survive can surpass any person's weakness. At this moment, they just wanted to live to see tomorrow.