After much anticipation, Fars finally returned. Seeing Jessy lying listlessly on the bed, he felt a pang of sympathy. After being starved for a whole day and night, it was hard for him to be indifferent. However, he knew that this was a necessary process for Jessy. If he pampered her like a cherished ancestor, it would yield no good results.
Fars understood that now was not the time to show excessive sympathy. He casually placed a few wild fruits down and approached to untie Jessy's mouth. Perhaps she had truly endured enough torment; instead of hurling curses at him like most captives would, Jessy merely moved her mouth slightly to relieve the numbness from being held open for so long. Acting as if she were sulking, she continued to lie there, not even glancing at Fars. Jessy likely realized that cursing him would have no effect; given his capacity for cruelty, he probably wouldn't even be bothered by her words.
Faced with her silence, Fars felt a bit helpless. He recognized that he was being somewhat inhumane, but he decided to let the young girl have her tantrum. Still, he needed to feign gentleness; after all, he had finally captured a woman, and he didn't want to drive her to despair.
Fars reached out and gently pulled the unresisting Jessy into his embrace. He refrained from trying to persuade her; if she wanted to remain silent, he could play along. However, she needed to eat something. After enduring such torment, the little beauty was already looking extremely frail. Without asking if she wanted to eat, Fars poured some clean water from his ring into a cup and brought it to Jessy's lips.
At that moment, Jessy felt conflicted. She was indeed starving and parched, but accepting something from this devil would mean surrendering, and she feared it would undermine her courage to resist in the future. Thus, she chose to maintain her silence, afraid that if she spoke, she might succumb to the temptation of food and water.
Seeing Jessy's determination to hold out, Fars couldn't help but chuckle. Since she hadn't chosen to end her own life, it was clear she feared death. Now, putting on this brave front of defiance seemed a bit disingenuous. It wasn't the right time to push her too hard; taming her required a balance of pressure and leniency. Still, it was necessary to teach this disobedient girl a lesson.
Fars leaned in, whispering softly into Jessy's ear, causing her to shiver slightly.
"My dear Jessy, your master has brought water to your lips, yet you refuse to drink. Do you truly wish to continue suffering from hunger and thirst? This is merely self-sabotage. If you hate me, you should strive to keep yourself in the best condition. With your current strength, could you even harm a defenseless woman?" His warm breath brushed against her ear with each word, making Jessy feel even more flustered.
Fars was giving Jessy an opportunity to relent, but the proud archer was clearly intent on continuing her struggle. He decided to tease her further, slowly moving his lips down from her ear to her slender neck. Bound tightly, Jessy had no means to resist, only able to squirm helplessly. When she finally opened her mouth, soft moans escaped her lips. Fars, a seasoned veteran in matters of seduction, employed techniques that a novice like Jessy could hardly withstand.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn. Fars had intended to continue teasing Jessy to disrupt her thoughts and hasten her submission. Yet, the intoxicating scent of her blood flowing from her neck captivated him, causing him to lose control. Having tasted blood before, he had never experienced the flavor of a woman's blood, and now he found it difficult to restrain himself. This extraordinary taste awakened his deepest desires, and his fangs instinctively extended, piercing her skin. The sudden pain made Jessy cry out, but fortunately, Fars's self-control was strong enough to snap him back to reality before he drained her completely. Still, having begun, he couldn't resist savoring the taste, slowing his feeding to enjoy it.
As Fars reduced his feeding speed, Jessy felt the initial sharp pain fade, replaced by a tingling sensation that spread from her neck throughout her body. The mix of pain and pleasure washed over her, causing the once-proud woman to lose her composure. The soft moans that escaped her lips and the way her body writhed in his arms only intensified Fars's desires…
On the disheveled experimental table, the two lay entwined, and the ropes binding Jessy had been torn apart in the throes of passion. Fars gently caressed the bruises on Jessy's skin, feeling a surge of excitement. However, the exhausted Jessy had succumbed to unconsciousness after Fars's feeding and torment. Not wanting to harm her on their first encounter, he tried to give her some water, and the barely conscious Jessy complied easily.
Though Jessy was inexperienced in this regard, her primal instincts, awakened by the stimulation, satisfied Fars immensely. Coupled with the delicious blood he had tasted, Fars experienced one of the most enjoyable nights since his awakening. Fortunately, he hadn't consumed too much blood, so it shouldn't pose a significant threat to Jessy's health. However, her frail state left Fars concerned; she wouldn't be able to eat the wild fruits he had gathered until she regained her strength. Fars, genuinely worried about Jessy going hungry, reluctantly gathered his energy and ventured out into the morning light to catch a wild rabbit, intending to provide her with a proper meal upon waking.
This effort was entirely necessary; only when Jessy regained her strength could Fars hope to indulge in her blood regularly. The act of feeding on her blood while she was in such a weakened state was indeed dangerous.
After this experience, the little beauty would surely come to accept her fate.
Jessy remained fast asleep on the bed, and Fars chose not to disturb her. He found a spot to lie down and began his training for the day. He didn't dare enter deep meditation, fearing that Jessy might wake up and act against him. Women often react strongly to the loss of certain things, leading to impulsive behavior.
The room, specially treated by Fars, remained in complete darkness regardless of how bright it was outside. Jessy hadn't slept for long; as soon as she awoke, Fars ended his meditation. Having spent so long in darkness, she could vaguely discern her surroundings. When Fars approached her, she instinctively recoiled. Although the ropes had been removed, Jessy, who hadn't moved in a while and was severely weakened, nearly fell off the bed.
Fars, displaying the speed expected of a vampire, quickly moved to steady the unsteady Jessy. The familiar scent of her fragrance enveloped him, and this time, his feelings for Jessy were more about concern than desire. Although the sight of her pale skin was blinding, the darkness couldn't hide her beauty. Before Jessy could react, Fars gently laid her back on the bed. He conjured a flame to illuminate the room, allowing Jessy to see her surroundings clearly.
This time, fear was written all over Jessy's face. The memories of the previous night lingered, and the fangs that had pierced her neck made her realize that the man before her was no longer human but a vampire. This dark creature, known for preying on its own kind, explained everything: why he had attacked her group and why he had kept her alive. The answers to her questions only deepened her terror.
Jessy trembled in the corner of the bed, staring fearfully at Fars, her voice shaking as she shouted, "You... stay away from me, you... evil vampire!"
Ignoring her outburst, Fars sneered, "It's too late to say that now. You should focus on taking care of yourself, my dear Jessy. You needn't worry about your esteemed master; at least I'm still alive and well."
"Your body is far too weak. If you don't eat something soon, you might really die."
With that, Fars disregarded Jessy's reaction, tossing the wild fruits to her and beginning to prepare the wild rabbit he had caught that morning.
As a noble, Fars shouldn't have to do such work. Even with his family's decline, he could still live well as a mage without lifting a finger. However, years of adventure had taught him many things. After all, most of his escapades took place in desolate areas, and if he didn't want to starve, he had to learn how to cook. Though his skills weren't the best, the aroma of the slowly roasting rabbit filled the air, making Jessy's stomach growl. She found it hard to resist the enticing scent, though she hadn't yet reached the point of rushing over to snatch it.
Fortunately, Fars didn't push her too hard. Once the rabbit was cooked, he used magic to lower its temperature to a more suitable level and offered it to Jessy. In this situation, putting on airs would only be counterproductive, so Jessy graciously accepted the food. She started eating slowly at first, but soon began to devour it ravenously.
Worried that Jessy might choke, Fars poured her a glass of his prized red wine, pouring himself a glass to savor as well. As long as Jessy was willing to accept the food he offered, she would likely find it hard to refuse in the future. Perhaps she was merely filling her stomach to seek revenge on Fars, but that was of no concern to him. What Fars desired was a healthy Jessy who could accompany him and provide him with her precious blood. Only through mutual benefit could he hope for a fruitful relationship. Surviving in the Qihar Mountains was no easy feat, but Fars would never let Jessy go hungry.
However, once Jessy was well-fed and had some energy to spare, Fars felt a chill run down his spine. Women could turn on you in an instant; just moments ago, she had looked so pitiful and starved, and now she seemed ready to attack him.
Fars wasn't about to give Jessy the chance to test him. Once she had regained her strength, he pulled out a long rope. Quick as a flash, Jessy attempted to escape, but Fars's speed easily matched hers. Though Jessy had regained some energy, her limbs were still sluggish from disuse, and he quickly pinned her down and re-tied her.
Having ended his meditation rather abruptly, Fars planned to continue his training in bed while letting this energetic girl reflect on her actions on the floor.