"Please drink my blood," I looked into his eyes as I said my last will. The commander looked unperturbed. I understand what was on his mind right now. It was as if I asked him to kill himself with me.
Raphael was a patriot. He might choose to be killed rather than flee to the afterlife like a coward. It was different if the enemy tried to extract information from us—we had been trained to bite our tongues to die. But we had really lost. Any information was no longer valuable to them.
"Sir Valor, I'll wait until they stab me in the heart and cut off my head. Let my head be an ornament of their spears and driven into their castle fence. At least my family knows I'm not a coward," he refused my offer.
I was choked, just talking was hard for me. They had mutilated my right arm, and part of my ear. My feet were arranged on top of each other, then nailed to the wooden floor using a rusty sharp iron instead of a chain. It hurt so much—I felt numb. My sense of pain was now gone.
But they hadn't cut my tongue. Those knights of Avalon wanted us to take death in a painful way. They left several organs in our bodies, which they would cut off once our wounds healed. I had given up for a few days, until Raphael Chastain, one of our commanders, was put in a cell with me.
He would experience all the torments that whack physically and mentally. But I wanted to save him. Maybe I could do something heroic this time. I didn't want my family name to be tarnished for sending useless knights in this terrible war.
"You're not going to die, Raphael," I said weakly.
"Sir Valor, drinking your blood will only hurt me. How long have you been living as a vampire? I refuse to kill myself," he refused emphatically. He was still quite fit. But I knew his confidence would crumble once he tasted the cruelty of Avalon's damned knights.
"My name is not Valor Dubois, sir," I confessed. This time he looked at me with slightly wide eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"We've been fighting together for five years. Even though I'm not very useful, you always help me. Now, allow me to repay my favor. Drink my blood. I'm a pureblood, and I'm a woman," this time Raphael gasped. I didn't think he was that surprised. I thought he had more or less figured it out. Because all this time I never wanted to take a bath or take off my clothes together with the other knights.
"Sir Valor, you—"
"We are now being held captive in the dungeons of King Avalon's castle, you can break free and look for him. You have to kill him, then the enemy troops will be significantly weakened. Drink my blood, it will give you strength," I said confidently. I didn't allow doubt to come out of my voice.
"Are you really a woman?"
"I will not frame you, Lord Chastain . . I am a patriot, just like you. Let me end my life in an honorable way."
I also untie my hair, revealing a silvery mane that I rarely show off. I pulled off my vest, revealing the white tunic which was now stained with blood and dirt. I continued by unbuttoning the top of my shirt, letting Sir Raphael watch my pale neck. I then tilted my head, exposing the pulse that was still throbbing and pumping my blood.
I watched his eyes change, his pupils dilated and his breathing a little ragged. It was his hunting phase, where the demonic urge within him forced him to consume blood and quench his thirst. I know he hadn't had a drink in a long time, this war had lasted so long that we hadn't had a chance to find a donor.
We were not like the Avalons who brought human slaves to the battlefield for their provisions. We knew that this decision would only continue to weaken us. But, we were not like them.
"I'll do it," he asked my permission. I nodded and watched as he approached with difficulty as his legs were entangled in chains. But he caught hold of my crippled me and he opened his mouth—showing his impressive vampire fangs.
Raphael Chastain, the war hero, now had his fangs buried in my neck. I could feel my blood being sucked in and starting to dry. Vampire, drink quickly. My skin turned pale. We vampires didn't produce much blood. That is why we always need another creature's blood supply.
Drinking the blood of other vampires wasn't that rare. But it could be deadly for us. Sometimes we do it for vampires who were on the verge of death. Similar to my current condition. But a vampire could only drink the blood of those of the opposite sex. Except animals. I was weak, even though I'm a pureblood. It was because I had only been drinking rabbit or fox blood for these five years.
"Don't leave a drop," I gasped, looking into his eyes.
It was not painful, it was fun. I felt ecstasy, euphoria, comfort and intimacy. Wasn't this the best way to die? I couldn't imagine when the Avalons knew that I was a girl. I dared not guess what they would do to my body.
After this, Raphael would survive. I was a pure blood vampire. My blood would gave him significant power. Hopefully it was not too late.
I felt weak. It was hard even to move my tongue. Images of my past flashed through my mind. Why did I have to go to war? Why was I not like other women who were in their homes waiting for their husbands to come home? Why should I sacrifice my life just because father needs my brother as a successor?
Was it because I'm a girl?
But even I was not allowed to be a real woman. All these lies, torture me. Imprisoned me in depression. Makes me not want to try to be a good knight. I just hope the war is quickly over and I go home.
I didn't think we could lose. The humans on our side. But I think I was too innocent looking at this war. Betrayal was everywhere. And I, instead, had to end my disguise as a knight helping the enemy win.
I couldn't forgive myself.
If only I wasn't so oblivious. If only I didn't trust other people easily.
The Knights of Florentia shouldn't have lost.
Could we go back in time? But I know it was impossible. I had wasted my life. Though I know I could do better than this.
"My name is Valerie Dubois, convey my apologies to my family. Kill King Avalon, don't waste my blood," I said weakly before I slowly closed my eyes.
***
"Wake up! Time to hunt for breakfast!" Someone kicked my leg. I yawned, and blinked.
Wait! I instantly felt refreshed after realizing something important.
Shouldn't I be dead already?
"Valor! Make yourself useful! The wooden bowls are waiting to be filled!" I stared. Sir Charles should be dead. I myself pulled his body from the abyss with a silver stake stabbing his heart.
"Sir Charles? Are you still alive?!" I shouted gratefully.
"Weak brat! Of course I'm still alive! Now let's get up! Your comrades have already set out to hunt..we need a lot of blood because today we will change camps!" He said again before leaving my tent.
Outside the tent, the atmosphere was still the same. The vampire knights mingled with the humans. Unlike the vampires, the humans cooked their own rations. But we could only drink fresh blood. If there was no livestock, we had to hunt. And that was my duty as a novice knight.
That was more than four years ago.
Was my prayer answered? I actually transmigrated back in time four years ago?
I looked at my feet and hands, then felt my ears. All still intact. I cried, letting my tears fall on the ground.
"Weak!"
"Brat! You crybaby!" It was a mockery I used to hear back then, I didn't know I could miss it.
I did not care! they could make fun of me for anything, but I was still alive!
I laughed to vent my emotions. Running around the barracks making sure everything was still the same. And I immediately knew what to do now. I opened the curtains of Sir Charles' tent without permission and smirked at him who was just about to change.
"Insolent brat! Could you at least say hello before opening my tent?"
"I've been a hunter for more than five months, now I want to join the Scout unit!" I shouted loud and sure.
"Huh? Weren't you the one who insisted that you never wanted to raise your rank?" Charles looked at me in surprise.
I smiled at him. In this life, I should at least reach the position of general. I will prevent the defeat of the knights of Florentia.