After sitting in the same position for five minutes, Renee spoke in a hushed tone. "Shouldn't we leave soon?"
Even though it had only been five minutes, it felt like they had been there for much longer. The water was still warm and comforting, but being alone with this man no longer seemed like the right decision.
"This pool has the same healing effect as the whispering river, but without any magical properties." Leon explained why they were there. "It helps your body return to its true state after the wandering soul leaves."
Renee could attest to this, when the wandering soul took over her body, she felt stronger and more capable than ever before. She wasn't tired or hungry, despite missing meals and sleep. Even though she was not in control of her body, Renee was still conscious and aware of everything happening around her.
"Then let me soak here alone."
She started to move away to let Leon out of the pool. But instead of letting her go, he held onto the girl tighter. Leon's arms were wrapped around Renee's shoulders and stomach, pressing her back against his chest.
"I'm still struggling with the effects of the river too." Leon replied. "Let's soak together."
Rene couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. "Then, let's take our baths separately. It will help us heal faster instead of staying in this position."
Leon's hoarse voice seemed to whisper in Renee's ear, "Who do you reckon is the King?"
Hearing the question made Renee think back to Asa, but Leon's voice tickled her ear and made the girl lose focus for a moment. "I don't know."
Not wanting to waste time discussing with someone who had no recollection of her past memories, Leon changed the subject. He purposely lowered his usually firm voice to seductive one when talking to Renee. "Do you dislike the bite marks on your neck that much?"
"Yes, I hate seeing any marks on my skin." Renee's voice also changed when answering Leon's question, unknowingly making the man even more excited.
"Then, I'll help you remove the marks."
"How?"
Leon's lips curled into a smile against the sensitive skin of Renee's neck as he responded to her question. "I'll do it my way, just let me know if it hurts."
This time, Renee allowed Leon to do whatever he pleased, as long as the marks on her neck disappeared or at least faded. The girl despised having marks on her body, especially without her consent, because Renee was the sole rightful owner of herself. Plus, she had taken great care of keeping her body in pristine condition for centuries and would not allow anyone to harm it physically or emotionally.
"Don't try to move or it'll take longer," Leon warned her. "Once we start, you have to hold still until it's finished."
Renee felt like she was doing something very dangerous right now. What the man was going to do, and so was the person who did it, Leon. "Okay, hurry up."
She was well aware of the danger in this situation. The actions of the man, and who the man is. "Come on, hurry." Renee urged, her nerves on edge.
The girl's response gave Leon the green light and he wasted no time in pressing his lips to her shoulder. The knot of Renee's bun revealed a clear path from her shoulder to neck, making it easily accessible for Leon. However, this made Renee wonder why he was kissing her shoulder when the injury was on her neck. Was he purposely stalling and trying to take advantage of the situation?
However, when Renee anticipated the man to move his mouth to her neck within a few seconds. She was caught off guard when Leon's tongue made contact with her skin and began licking it. Renee was so lost in the sensation, that she didn't even notice when Leon's tongue moved from her shoulder to nape, leaving behind a trail of small kisses. But all of that faded into insignificance, as Leon placed his lips on her neck wound and began sucking fervently.
The girl's body responded uncontrollably as a wave of desire overtook Renee, causing her to arch her back and close the eyes. She had been warned by Leon not to move too much or they would have to start the process over again, so Renee did her best to control herself despite the intense turmoil she felt. But, it seemed that no matter how hard Renee tried to steal herself, Leon's grip on her only grew tighter, as if he didn't want to let go.
Renee's voice sounded hoarse, as if she was grasping onto her last bit of sanity. "This is too much."
Contrary to what one would expect, the experience was actually quite pleasurable for Renee, giving her a sense of belonging and fulfillment. But that was the problem, it was Leon who was causing her this pleasure, making her body react in ways she never intended. Because, it only brought them closer together, creating tension and intimacy between Leon and herself, which she tried to avoid.
"Can we stop now?" Renee struggled to regain control over her desires. "I can't catch my breath."
When Leon realized that he had gone too far with the girl, he pulled his lips away and tried to calm himself down. Leon couldn't resist the temptation of Renee's body, causing him to forget that she was an immortal being who could still feel pain. He watched as the girl's skin changed from red to bluish, a sign of his success in both arousing Renee's lust and healing the wounds.
Gradually, Renee's previously tense body began to relax. Her breathing returned to normal, along with her rapid heartbeat began to stabilize. She repositioned herself, leaning against Leon's body once again.
The experience was a rush for Renee, something she had never felt before. "I don't think I'll ever let you do that again," she said with closed eyes, feeling completely drained of energy.
Leon loosened his embrace on the girl's fragile body, but his hands remained in the same position as before. He wanted to make Renee feel protected and secure, so Leon gently patted his hands over her. Despite this loving gesture, a wide smile still graced Leon's face, indicating the extraordinary satisfaction he felt from their interaction.
"Next time I'll be more gentle," Leon teased mischievously, "I want us both to enjoy it."
A sneer crept onto Renee's lips upon hearing those words, though the girl's couldn't deny the pleasure of Leon's touch. She even leaned her head back against his shoulder, beginning to feel the calming effects of the pool water as the man had promised. Or maybe it was actually the man himself who made Renee feel so relaxed and caused her guard to lower.
"I'm quite particular, sir." Renee said with a hint of pride in her voice. "I don't easily become satisfied. You have to reach a certain level for me to become addicted."
The girl's taunt provoked a brief laugh from Leon. "Miss, you're jumping to conclusions about me too quickly," he said softly. "You haven't even seen ten percent of my capabilities."
At that moment, Leon wished he could stay with Renee for the rest of the day, with no other concerns or obligations. But the sound of approaching footsteps reminded him of their reality and the issues they needed to address. Using his vampire senses, Leon could detect the figure easily.
"Don't come any closer," Leon ordered as his head turned towards the entrance, not wanting anyone to see Renee in her current state. "Speak from there."
The girl's eyes slowly opened and Darius' voice echoed in the large room. "It's almost time for the wandering soul to be collected," he informed them. "I think it would be best if you hand her over yourself, since Aaron will be coming."
Leon seemed hesitant, not wanting to get involved anymore since everything was over. But, as Dmitri's boss and ultimately responsible for his employee's negligence, as well as for drawing the wandering soul from Renee's body, he knew it was his duty to see this through until the end.
"May I see the wandering soul before she departs?" Renee asked, sitting up and turning to face Leon. "There's something I need to confirm."
***
Leon led Renee through the hotel's dungeon, passing by rows of small rooms that resembled prison cells. The closed doors offered no glimpse of those inside, leaving Renee to wonder about the occupants, whether they were human or vampire. These rooms served as temporary confinement for vampires and Renee couldn't help but feel a pang of unease at the thought.
"Time is ticking, so you must hurry. Aaron will be here soon to collect the girl."
Leon stopped in front of one particular black iron door and checked his watch, making sure they still had a bit of time left. It had only been five minutes since Renee arrived in this area, but she already felt suffocated as if there was no air in the place. Perhaps it was due to the dim lighting from the small yellow lamps hanging on some parts of the walls, or perhaps it was because she knew she would come face to face with a part of her past through this girl's memories.
With a simple request, Leon asked the woman on guard to open the door for them. Renee wasn't surprised when the sturdy door easily swung open, as she had come to realize the vast differences in strength and instincts, between humans and vampires, almost like comparing wild animals. As she entered the room, illuminated by only a small white lamp above a table in the center, Renee could clearly see the face of the girl sitting with her hands bound in front of her.
The door behind Renee closed with a click, leaving just the two of them in the cold darkness. The girl slowly lifted her head, surprised to see Renee standing there. Her red eyes widened at the unexpected presence. Despite being separated by the table, Renee could feel the intensity of the girl's gaze as their eyes met.
"Shouldn't you be on your knees paying respects to your queen when you meet her?" Renee's tone turned sarcastic as she asked, it was almost like she had transformed into a completely different person in that moment.
Renee hadn't meant to say those words, but they slipped out as soon as her eyes landed on the girl in front of her. It was as if this body remembered all too well what the person before her had just done. A sense of betrayal, disappointment and regret washed over Renee.
"Asa, must I repeat myself? Kneel at the feet of your queen," Renee demanded once more.
As if just realizing Renee's words that were spoken for the second time, the girl who seemed to have difficulty moving immediately knelt on the hard floor and lowered her whole body to the ground. Seeing how hard Asa tried to move, Renee could guess that her soul had returned to her body. Which meant, the Asa in front of her was a human being and not a wandering soul anymore, who looked very messy and helpless.
"Asa is here, pay my respects to my queen of the Sadal Empire. Wishing you happiness and longevity."
Despite her messy appearance and helpless state, Renee couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions towards the girl, including sadness and pity. Though their relationship wasn't entirely clear to her, Renee could sense a strong bond between them, almost like sisters. With limited time left, there were two questions burning in Renee's mind that she needed answers to.
"Please answer me truthfully," Renee began. "Did I live happily during my reign as queen?"
Asa's head lifted slowly from the floor, a small smile appeared on her lips despite the dried blood that had been left by the vicious vampires during their fight. "Yes," she said in a barely audible voice, confirming Renee's question. "You lived happily with your king and son, Alaric."
The metal voice behind Renee becomes a reminder for her, it was time for Asa to go. But before she left, there was one more question that needed to be answered. As Renee's eyes darted between Asa and the door that was slowly opening, she kneeled down in front of the girl and urged Asa to look into her eyes.
"Who else is still alive?"
Asa turned to Renee who looked anxious and spoke quietly. "Frida," she answered simply. "You have to find her."
The name brought she back to Asa's memory that Renee saw, but she couldn't recall what Frida looked like. "How will I know if I've found her?"
Asa, who knew that Renee had forgotten her past memories, showed her left wrist. There, a tattoo resembling an initial was visible, right where the pulse beat. The letters 'AS' were inked in black, standing out against Asa's skin.
"You need to look for the initials 'FR' on her wrist," the girl said quickly, "That is the mark of identification for the Sadal people."
***