Lilith felt utterly foolish as she realized she'd been talking to a painting. She sighed, shaking her head as she walked away. I have to find Alucardo, she thought, and convince him to become my guest. It's the only way to fulfill Mother's prophecy.
Under the Gothic half-oval window, the Bloodblight Flower turned its head toward her, its countless eyes blinking in unison. Its grotesque, toothy grin stretched wide as it greeted her.
"Ah, my beautiful Princess, we meet again. Is there something I can do for you?"
"Have you seen Alucardo?"
"He has prepared the ceremonial scepter and crown for you. He is waiting in the antechamber," the flower replied.
"Thank you," Lilith said with a polite nod.
"Forgive my boldness, Princess," the flower drooled, "but you smell utterly delicious. Should you ever require my assistance, a small piece of your flesh would suffice as payment."
"Thanks, but I think I'll manage without that." Lilith's heels clicked briskly as she strode past the flower.
"Oh, come now, Princess. Just a tiny piece! Even an eyeball would do," the Bloodblight Flower called after her.
Lilith ignored it, quickening her pace until she reached the antechamber and pushed the door open. Inside, Alucardo sat on a velvet sofa, swirling a crimson liquid in a wine glass.
"Where have you been, Sister?" Alucardo asked coldly, his gaze piercing.
Lilith took a step forward and immediately felt her foot squelch. The sticky sensation sent a chill through her—her transformation was accelerating.
"I need your help!" she said urgently.
Alucardo raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Sister?"
"I need you to be my guest for the ceremony," she blurted.
Alucardo's gaze darkened as he leaned back, his glass poised mid-air. "Do you not realize? I am the host of your ceremony."
Lilith's heart sank. "Then that means…"
"Yes," he interrupted. "It means I can also be your guest. I don't mind taking on an additional role."
"You will?" Lilith's voice trembled with relief.
"Of course," Alucardo said, setting down his glass. "You are my sister, and as a nobleman, I cannot refuse a request made so earnestly. It would be unbecoming."
Lilith exhaled deeply, finally feeling a shred of hope. But then a thought struck her, and her stomach churned.
"Will you… will you give me your genuine blessing?" she asked hesitantly.
Alucardo chuckled—a cold, bitter sound. "I can offer you my blessing, but as for making it genuine… that is something I simply cannot do."
"What?" Lilith's crimson eyes widened in disbelief.
Rising to his feet, Alucardo approached her slowly, his face twisting with anger.
"It is impossible, Sister. How can I truly bless you when Mother abandoned me? She left me behind and took only you. She even wrote a prophecy to ensure you would become the most powerful vampire in existence. Her favoritism was so blatant, so infuriating. Tell me, Sister, how can I possibly offer you my heartfelt blessing?"
Alucardo stood before her now, his rage etched into every line of his face.
"So, do you still want me as your guest?" he sneered.
Lilith lowered her head and let out a long sigh. I was foolish to think this would work. Alucardo was never the right choice. If he were, Father would have invited him long ago.
"Alucardo," she called as he turned to leave.
He paused, his back still to her.
"I love you. And so did Mother."
A memory surfaced in Lilith's mind: a younger Alucardo trailing after her, their mother watching him with the same gentle eyes she reserved for Lilith.
"Ha. I love you too, Sister," Alucardo replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he walked out, slamming the door behind him.
The frogs' incessant croaking returned, louder than ever. Lilith quickly removed her gloves and stared in horror—her arms were now fully green and covered in slimy, black-striped skin.
[Nini's Sanity -10]
"Ahhhh! Master, you're terrifying!" Nini screamed, but this time the frogs' calls didn't stop. They merely softened.
Lilith realized something—Nini's screams didn't halt the transformation; they only suppressed the hallucinations brought on by it.
Frantically, she pulled her gloves back on.
[Your Sanity -1]
[Your Sanity -1]
This is getting worse. The transformation is accelerating!
Waiting for Father to return wasn't an option anymore. I have to find the hundredth guest myself! But where? Who can I trust?
The croaking grew louder, the sound unbearable.
"Shut up!" Lilith screamed, clutching her head. "Shut up, you damned frogs!"
Her steps faltered as she stumbled to the door and opened it. Her body felt sticky and heavy, her every movement labored, as if her legs were preparing to leap instead of walk.
"Help me…" she whispered hoarsely. "Someone, help me…"
Her distorted reflection in the window showed the truth—her elegance and nobility were gone.
"Good evening, my beautiful Princess," came a voice.
The Bloodblight Flower stood beneath the long corridor window, its many eyes glinting with malice.
"You seem quite… unusual tonight. Would you reconsider my offer? Just a small piece of your flesh, and I can help you with anything you desire."
Tears streamed down Lilith's face as she nodded. "You can have my… flesh. But… you must be my guest… and truly bless me."
The Bloodblight Flower studied her intently, then said, "I accept your offer. But I'm no longer interested in your flesh. An eyeball would suffice."
Lilith's transformation had reached her neck. She gritted her teeth and reached for her eye.
Her screams echoed through the corridor as she wrenched her eyeball out and hurled it toward the flower.
"Delicious! Exquisite!" the Bloodblight Flower cackled. "I accept your invitation, Princess. At your ceremony, I will offer you my most sincere blessing!"
Lilith smiled faintly through the pain, but her hope quickly shattered.
The transformation hadn't stopped.
"You lied to me…"
"Now, now, Princess," the flower replied, feigning innocence. "I am lawful evil. I never lie. Perhaps you've misunderstood something."
Croak. Croak. Croak.
Panic surged through Lilith as she stumbled toward the banquet hall. She needed to see the nameplate on the seventh table, seventh seat.
She shoved her way through thralls of servants, their eyes wild and hungry as they murmured, "Blood… so fragrant… so tempting…"
Mary's Third Warning: Blood only belongs in the goblet.
"Nini!" Lilith screamed as the doll dashed forward, unleashing a maniacal cackle. The chaos behind her was deafening, but Lilith didn't stop. She reached the nameplate and saw—
Nothing.
The plate was still blank.
Why? Why hadn't the name appeared?
Suddenly, a shadowy figure began to materialize in the empty chair. Lilith collapsed beneath the table, her body convulsing as the croaking in her mind intensified.
She had become a frog.
[Your Sanity -20]
[Your Sanity -20]
As the figure solidified, Lilith gazed up. It was a woman with silver hair, crimson eyes, and an aura of elegance and perfection.
It was… herself.
"I've always been here, Lilith," the woman said, smiling softly. "Why couldn't you see me?"
The nameplate fell to the ground in front of the trembling frog.
Guest: Lilith.
[Your Sanity - Cleared.]
You are no longer you.
"No—!" Lilith jolted awake, screaming.
She was back in her bed, sunlight streaming through the windows.
Her hands flew to her face—her eyes were intact. Her body was normal.
"Was it… just a dream?"
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A calm, rhythmic knocking echoed from the door.