Still lying at the entrance of the cave, Samael felt his face grow hot.
In the heat of the moment, he had just blurted out an unbelievably embarrassing one-liner.
"Your Nephilim has arrived to the rescue."
The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to bury himself alive.
Two pairs of eyes watched him.
Vanitas' curious blue eyes.
And Elizabeth's lavender eyes, silently studying him.
— Still alive? — Elizabeth asked coldly.
— Yeah... — Samael answered, still out of breath.
— Good.
Elizabeth turned away immediately afterward.
But for the briefest moment, a small smile crossed her face.
Vanitas noticed it with interest.
— You really made quite a mess, didn't you, Samael?
— Huh? You're alive? — Samael asked in surprise.
— It's not very polite to kill people right in front of them, — Vanitas replied with a sigh. — Apparently, I'm the only civilized one on this team.
— I just didn't expect to find you with Liz.
Vanitas widened his eyes.
— Liz? So this cold woman actually has a nickname?
Samael simply shrugged.
While he remained lying there, catching his breath, Vanitas walked over to Elizabeth.
— My Flaw is starting to bother me again, — he commented.
— How much longer can you endure it? — Elizabeth asked.
— Until tomorrow at most.
— Then endure it until tomorrow.
Vanitas frowned.
Arguing was pointless.
He had already tried before.
His blue eyes then fell on Samael.
"Now it's different."
Putting on the gentlest smile he could manage, he approached him.
— Samael, can I ask you a favor?
— Hm?
— My Flaw makes me need blood. Could I have some of yours?
"Flaw..."
Samael's golden eyes softened.
He knew all too well what it was like to live with a Flaw.
That was his weakness.
— Sure.
Vanitas smiled.
— Thank you.
Samael closed his eyes for a few seconds, remembering the previous night and the decision he had made.
Then...
A sharp pain shot through his arm.
Something warm and wet.
Opening his eyes in surprise, he found Vanitas with his teeth sunk into his arm, completely absorbed as he drank his blood.
"What the hell?!"
Instinctively, Samael yanked his arm back.
— What are you doing?!
Vanitas blinked in confusion.
— You said you'd help me.
— I did, but...
Samael looked away.
— I didn't know it would be like this.
Vanitas frowned.
— So you're taking it back?
Hearing that, Samael hesitated.
"Flaw..."
With a sigh, he offered his arm again.
— You can continue.
Vanitas' blue eyes lit up.
His fangs pierced Samael's skin once more.
Immediately, he immersed himself in the taste.
It was delicious.
Sweet.
Smooth.
Like honey.
After several seconds, the color began to drain from Samael's face.
— That's enough.
Elizabeth appeared beside them.
Grabbing Samael's arm, she pulled it out of Vanitas' mouth without the slightest gentleness.
— That's enough.
Vanitas blinked.
Then wiped the corners of his mouth.
— Thank you.
His smile was radiant.
His deep blue eyes almost seemed to sparkle.
— It was delicious.
Elizabeth looked at Samael's arm.
Then fixed Vanitas with a cold stare.
— If you drink any more than that, I'll rip your teeth out.
Vanitas simply smiled politely.
— Understood.
Samael, meanwhile, stared at his own arm, still trying to process everything.
— ...
— Next time, warn people before you bite them.
The atmosphere suddenly grew heavier.
It was as if invisible grains of sand had filled the air, making every breath strangely uncomfortable.
The icy look in Vanitas' eyes made his displeasure unmistakable.
His blue eyes glowed.
Tiny bolts of lightning slithered through his pupils like serpents of light.
Samael watched everything in silence.
Alert.
Ready to intervene if things escalated.
Soul essence began flowing through his limbs, strengthening them.
Even so, he didn't think Vanitas had done anything outrageous.
It had been uncomfortable, certainly.
But Samael assumed that was simply because of his own issues.
— Calm down, Liz. It wasn't that big of a deal, — he whispered into Elizabeth's ear.
— Be quiet for a moment, Samael, — she said without taking her eyes off Vanitas.
Lavender eyes met blue ones.
It wasn't an argument.
It was a struggle for authority.
— I don't depend on your blood anymore, so please stay out of this, — Vanitas said with a faint smile.
Almost forced.
Or perhaps it truly was.
— He's a member of my cohort, — Elizabeth replied immediately.
— Since when do you care about anyone? — Vanitas asked, still smiling.
Samael grabbed Elizabeth's hand, trying to signal for her to step back.
Useless.
— And another thing... since when did we decide you're the one in charge here? — Vanitas continued.
— I never said I was in charge.
Elizabeth stepped forward.
— And what exactly do you know about me to claim whether I care about someone or not?
"These two..."
Samael understood.
That last sentence made everything clear.
This wasn't a fight.
It was a clash between two people who were used to occupying dominant positions.
He let out a sigh and closed his eyes for a moment.
"Ah... I really didn't want to do this."
But if he didn't step in, neither of them would back down.
Both were far too proud.
Samael released Elizabeth's hand.
Then he stepped between them.
His golden eyes shone as he circulated essence through his body, hiding his discomfort while trying to project authority.
— Since the two of you can't settle this yourselves...
His voice echoed louder than usual.
— Then I'll be the leader.
For a moment...
Silence filled the cave.
— And anyone who disagrees...
Tolice appeared in his hand.
Elizabeth's eyes widened.
Surprised.
Perhaps it was the first time she had ever seen Samael assert himself like this.
Vanitas remained motionless.
His blue eyes met Samael's golden ones.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Then...
The electric glow faded from his pupils.
The smile on his lips became natural again.
— If that's what you want... you can have the position.
Vanitas took a step back.
And at that moment...
He no longer seemed like the same person from just seconds before.
Without another word, he turned around and walked back into the cave.
Only after he disappeared from sight did Samael realize he had been holding his breath ever since stepping between them.
He slowly let it out.
— It was surprising to hear you talk like that, — Elizabeth commented as she watched Samael dismiss Tolice.
The sword dissolved into particles of light, and he let out a tired sigh.
— It was the only way to stop you two, — he replied.
The exhaustion he already felt seemed even worse now.
Elizabeth remained silent for a moment.
Her lavender eyes settled on Samael, and something resembling guilt flickered across them.
— Sorry... I think I was being childish.
She looked away slightly, clearly uncomfortable admitting it.
Samael smiled faintly.
— Relax. It's not like I'm in any position to complain.
— I do stupid things too, from time to time.
Elizabeth stared at him for a few seconds.
Then she sat down on the rock she usually used to watch the city.
The view before them was beautiful.
The distant lights shimmered like stars scattered across the earth.
But Elizabeth wasn't looking at the city.
Her gaze remained fixed on Samael.
As though the scenery before them had lost all importance.
As though the conflict from a few minutes earlier had never happened.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
— So... how have your days in America been, Sam? — she asked casually.
Samael blinked.
The sudden change of topic caught him completely off guard.