If someone stays too long in the river or allows the whispers to take hold of their mind, the magic becomes a trap. The more they give in to their desires, the more the river pulls them under until they drown in its waters, consumed by their own desires. The danger for immortals is spiritual, the river could sap their will or bind their soul in a way that's worse than death.
But what if it wasn't the whispers that he couldn't control, but the girl? Even though not hearing the whispers, Leon still felt vulnerable as he sensed the girl's cold breath on his neck. The situation was clouding his mind and making it hard to think clearly, knowing that every moment spent in the river made it harder for him to resist.
Despite the strong temptation, Leon had to find a way to outsmart the wandering soul and free Renee. He had to keep his emotions in check in order to weaken the hold of the wandering soul, using his vampire abilities. In a split second, Leon turned to face the girl, their bodies now facing each other.
"Wasn't it your turn to hold up your end of the bargain?" Leon asked, placing one hand on the girl's back and the other over her heart.
The girl briefly glanced down to see where the man's hands were going, causing her body to tense up. When Renee looked back up at Leon, her mischievous smile disappeared and a serious expression replaced it. The playful atmosphere between them vanished in an instant with not a hint of laughter from the girl.
"I'm only giving you a minute to talk, otherwise I won't think twice about pulling you out of this body." There was no negotiable tone at all from the man anymore.
"Three.."
Leon's voice broke through the silence, causing the wandering soul to snap out of her daze and realize that his countdown had gone from sixty seconds down to just three. The suddenness of it all made her eyes widen in surprise.
"Two.."
The girl began to move her body wildly, as if she wanted to escape from the embrace of the man who seemed completely unaffected by her. Leon stood straight and upright, making the girl look like a small ant to him.
"One.."
In the end, the girl realized that Leon actually had no intention of letting her go, because the man's patience with her had run out.
Leon used his vampire abilities to simultaneously push both hands on the woman's body and sink his teeth into her neck, drawing out the wandering soul. As he did so, a blinding light filled his vision, revealing the memories of the wandering soul.
***
[PAST]
The girl wore an emerald green dress, without any accessories adorning her slender frame. However, her body was covered in intricate tattoos that were considered luxurious adornments for her clan. Despite the freedom to decorate their bodies as they pleased, there was one rule that remained, the face had to be smooth and blemish-free.
"Asa," someone called the girl. "Don't forget to bring the Sadal Imperial Crown."
The girl who walked hurriedly just like chasing time, stopped and turned to her friend. From the perspective of the audience, they knew that this was the true face of a wandering soul, a sweet and cheerful girl in her early twenties.
Asa noticed her friend carrying a wooden brown box and quickly remembered her duty as a servant. "I owe you a lot, Frida." She took it and continued on her way.
Looking around, it seemed that a grand celebration was taking place in the Empire, because workers bustled around installing new and luxurious interior design. Plus the girl named Asa, dressed in glamorous attire similar to other girls in there. People were also busy running back and forth, their hands full of various items.
A few moments later, Asa entered an area that exuded formality and magnificence. It was clear that only certain people were allowed access, as guards stood watch at every door she passed. Asa's steps slowed down once she reached the last white door, guarded by several people. From its appearance, one could guess that the occupant inside held a high position and played an essential role in the kingdom.
Asa took a deep breath to compose herself before knocking and turning the doorknob. Although she had been inside this large and opulent room countless times as the girl's personal servant, this time felt different. In just an hour, the owner's status would change to someone else's wife.
This realization changed Asa's demeanor as she greeted and saluted her future queen. She kneeled down with her head bowed, avoiding direct eye contact when she presented the box in her hand to the person sitting in front of a dressing table surrounded by busy dressers.
"Asa is present, I brought the crown."
The girl gestured for one of her maids to take the item and set it on the table. As they opened the box, the shimmering light from the crown mesmerized everyone, just like it emitted a unique aura to whoever wore it. Asa rose from her seat and joined the others in marveling at the crown for the first time, because it was strictly forbidden for anyone to see it before the wedding ceremony.
"Is that Aurora's Grace?" one of the maids in the room began to speak about the crown with an enlightened expression.
"Yes," another maid responded, seemingly more knowledgeable about imperial jewelry. "The name represents new beginnings, wisdom and beauty. The word "Grace" captures the queen's elegance and inner strength."
"Ahh~" understanding filled the air as they processed this information.
"I heard that the king personally designed the crown, drawing inspiration from nature and infusing it with refined elegance, all while thinking of the queen." Chimed in another girl, adding to the authenticity of the crown's design.
As the maid finished speaking, the door suddenly swung open and a figure appeared. It was the young man they had been discussing, dressed in a magnificent gold gown that exuded power and unmatched handsomeness. The room fell silent as he made his way to the dressing table.
"We pay our respects to the King of the Sadal Empire," everyone in the room spoke simultaneously, their intonation perfect as they kneeled on the floor and bowed their heads, unable to look at anyone else.
The young king crossed the room and approached the girl who sat before him, wearing a dress that matched his own, indicating their wedding attire. His gaze shifted to the crown resting on the table and he carefully placed it on her head, the final touch to complete the girl's appearance for the day. A smile spread across his face as he admired the girl's in the mirror, feeling content with their union.
"It seems you forgot the most important part of this crown," The serene voice could be heard by all the ladies in attendance, signaling that their king was about to address the conversation that had just taken place among them.
"What seems to be the problem?" Asa's sudden interruption caught them all off guard, but they remained quiet, curious to hear what the king had to say.
"There are two gemstones that represent the ultimate acts of sacrifice and dedication, including being willing to give one's life." The young king proceeded to share his story, "One is known as Black Diamond, and the other is Red Beryl."
Unintentionally, a few of the ladies-in-waiting who had been chattering couldn't resist stealing glances at the precious gemstone placed atop the girl's head, adorned in her crown. Though their actions could be seen as disrespectful to the royal family, it seemed to go unnoticed by the two people present. In fact, they both smiled warmly at the curious gazes of the girls, fixated on the gemstone's color.
Abruptly, the girl rose from her seat and turned towards her audience, allowing them all to see her up close. "The color is red," she declared with assurance. "Symbolizing blood, life and the willingness to give everything for love."
Everyone nodded in unison after receiving a more detailed explanation from the girl. Suddenly, a hand was extended to the girl from the young king, who stood proudly beside her as an invitation. "Let's go, my queen."
With no further questions or doubts from anyone present, the girl took the man's hand without hesitation. She may not have had a traditionally feminine presence, but she exuded an air of confidence and grace that was undeniable. "Yes, Your Highness." She replied with a smile on her lips.
At that moment, they knew who the real queen was. But just as they tried to catch a glimpse of the young king's face, the dream faded and they woke up from their slumber.
***
"Wake up, my queen."
The sound of a seductive voice rang in her ears, rousing Renee from her slumber. Slowly, she opened her eyes, still lost in the memories that had been plaguing her mind. Besides herself, Renee realized that the man also saw those memories, as evidenced by his bite mark on her body.
In an instant, Renee's hand flew to her neck, frantically searching for the mark that she knew would be there. Her annoyance turned to anger as she felt the visible reminder of being claimed by someone else.
"Who gave you permission to leave this mark on me?" Renee clenched her teeth and turned her head back, glared at the man responsible.
Immediately, Renee's expression morphed into one of surprise. She could no longer see the river she was just in. Instead, she found herself in another pool. The tall pillars on either side gave off an ancient vibe, making it seem like a private indoor swimming area.
But what was more pressing at the moment was the fact that Renee was still completely naked, lying on top of a man who was also unclothed. They were both sitting on the pool floor, with their heads above the waterline. Despite her attempts to move away from him, one of Leon's hands on her shoulder kept her firmly in place.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
Renee cursed silently. It seemed that after breaking free from the wandering soul's control, she was now under the vampire's control.
***