When the time came for us to tuck ourselves in, I, being the gentleman, offered to sleep on the floor. There was only one bed and three of us. It seemed the only sensible choice.
Amara pointedly ignored my words, though, and took to lounging atop the windowsill. Although Immortal negated her need for sleep or food, providing your mental faculties some rest would only prove beneficial in the long run. That said, there wasn't much I could do or say to dissuade her.
Instead I turned to look at Titania, who had removed her armor and looked like a masterfully crafted beauty. Beneath her hard shell she only wore a tight blouse that exposed her midriff and gave me a view of her toned abs. Her bottom was covered by a pair of black shorts that left her tanned legs exposed.
I had to tear my gaze from her smokin hot figure and address her with a smile. "Why don't you take the bed, while Amara and I discuss some things?"
Titania frowned, her gaze momentarily drifting to Amara before shifting back to me. "I know you're strong and she's even stronger, but I'm not useless, alright. So anything you decide, I want to be part of it."
Her words caught me by surprise, not having expected her to lay it on so suddenly. I could understand her view, though. She knew how my Origin worked, and there was every possibility that our small group would expand veritably.
However, neither was I willing to treat them as monsters, nor did they expect to be treated that way. At least Amara didn't. The point is, since we are already stuck for eternity, why not live the best there is?
As Friends. As Family.
I allowed a soft smile to grace my features and looked at the light-eyed dwarf. "I promise to tell you everything in the morning; how's that? For now please take some rest; you look more worn down than me."
Although I summoned her only an hour or so ago, I could tell the weight of the revelations seemed to have taken a toll on her.
"Promise?" She held up her pinky finger.
"Promise." I crossed hers with a cheery smile.
After seeing her settle beneath the sheets, I turned to Amara, who was looking out the open window.
"Anything interesting going on?" I asked as I approached.
Amara didn't break her attention, gazing at the still bustling city with a dreamy look. "Very much so," she answered. "Look at all those people. They are so ignorant, happy to spend their lives doing pointless things."
I followed her gaze and found a group of hawkers selling their merchandise with bubbling enthusiasm. "But they are happy."
"Yeah." Amara nodded. "Happiness. As long as you have it, then even facing death with a smile of contentment isn't too far-fetched."
At one point it was all I had desired too, until I realized just how much sorrow and misery was actually a result of lacking strength. At that point my priority had shifted to securing that illusive peak so that I could become happy too.
"Let's talk somewhere else." She proposed suddenly, and without waiting for my reply, she climbed down the ledge and then, in one swift motion, pulled herself up. She had just snuck up on the roof to have a private chat.
I took a cursory glance Titania's way and found her already fast asleep. I then followed after her and climbed to the roof.
Looking up, I couldn't see the moon; grim dark clouds shrouded the skies in gloomy weather. Amara stood a few feet away, her gaze locked onto the skies. I approached.
"Do you know why I have a talent called Moon's Blessing?" She asked.
I paused, then shook my head. Amara continued, "Actually, I don't remember either. But there's this feeling, this strong and warm sensation, whenever I'm standing beneath the night sky. Like my mother is watching me from above."
My eyes grew soft at her mention, but my feet carried me closer. I was dearly sympathetic to her plight of losing her memories. All this time we had been struggling to arrive somewhere, so I never gave it much thought, but thinking back, the loss of her memories must've been weighing heavily on her mind.
"Amara..." I whispered softly as I stood behind her.
She cut a melancholic figure gazing at the gloomy clouds, as if straight out of an artist's imagination. Although no tears marred her cheek, there was a loneliness to her smile, a bleak shadow.
I stepped even closer, resting my palm against her waist. I expected her to pull away or bat my hand, but instead she leaned back, resting against my chest. I felt her warmth and the beat of her heart; I found sorrow and hope in her eyes, and I hugged to assert that I was here.
"Do you know why I kissed you?" She asked me.
"No," I replied. "Is it not because I'm just so handsome and irresistible?"
Amara laughed, knocking her head back. "Of course there's that, but I just wanted to feel that warmth more. I missed it, you know. All I remember is darkness, and when that ended, there was only you."
I frowned. "Titania didn't mention any darkness, though..."
"I'm not exactly sure why that would be the case, without making some wild assumptions at least." She stated. "Listen, Markus—
"Just Mark is fine." I interrupted.
"—Ok Mark, you should've already made some guesses about your origin by now, right? You should know what you will be facing in the future."
Hearing her words, I couldn't hold back the sigh from escaping my lips. "I know. There will be more in the future... Probably from different species too."
"Yes, that," she said, "and they will all be girls."
"Wait, they will?" I was surprised at her conclusion and couldn't help but ask. "How can you be sure, though?"
"Eh..." Amara hesitated in answering, averting my gaze as I looked at the brightly lit streets. "Remember that time I said I figured something out?"
"You mean the talk about the US?" I ventured. "You mean to say this US isn't just limited to us, as in you and me?"
Amara sighed and turned around, facing me. "I have no idea who I am. Who I was in the past. But that self still lives with me, and I know what I want. I know what she wants."
"A Friend?"
"A Family." She answered, meeting my gaze with such intensity that I had never felt in my whole life. I could feel my heart racing, my mind reeling from the assertion. And I could see a new notification crowd my vision.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Congratulations! Your Favorability with your summon [Amara - Night Queen] has reached 50%.
Attribute synchronization rate has gone up to 10%.
"I, uh..." I blinked, trying to dredge up a response, but my mind seemed unable to form a single coherent sentence. All I did was stutter and stumble my way to formulating a perfect reply.
Happiness.
Wasn't that what everyone sought at the end? Didn't we all strive toward attaining that content state? Wasn't that my goal from the beginning?
This was it. This was my chance to finally touch upon my happiness.
I took a deep breath and grabbed Amara's hand, feeling the softness of her palm and her fingers. I could feel their warmth and touch with which they squeezed my hand. I smiled.
"I know this might sound a bit dull and even corny, but I want you by my side. For now and forever. Will you, please?"
Amara grinned, putting her sharp fangs on display. "You know you're only 19, right? Did you really think a vampire like me, who's over two thousand years old, would take interest in you, a little twerp who isn't even a hundredth of my age?"
I stilled, my heart froze, and my brain was unable to process new information. Then I felt anger, my dragon heart growling in displeasure. Without giving her a chance to react, I seized her lips with force and obsession.
My hands bound her waist, giving her no chance to escape. She feigned struggle but otherwise made no effort to break away. The kiss lasted minutes, leaving us breathless at the end.
Amara looked at me, breathing raggedly, and I stared back. With a swift motion, her hands enclosed around my head and pulled me in, her slimy tongue making a dance with my own.
Soft, wet sounds of our battle resounded atop the roof. Her hands grasped my hair, pulling me in even deeper. I held onto her lithe waist, hugging her tighter. Our bodies seemed to melt into each other as we lost ourselves to the haze of lust.
Alas, breathing was still something I needed to keep my vital functions running. I pulled back, a strand of saliva connecting our lips. I took a quick kiss to steal it.
As we stood in each other's embrace, calming our breaths, I swatted a hand on Amara's bubbly ass. Since she wore a cloak most of the time, it was easy to mistake her backside for just as modest as her bosom. Only such assumption would wildly incorrect.
"Hey!" Amara slapped my hand away, her face flushed red. "What was that about?"
"I don't like being teased." I groused as I rubbed her waist.
"I thought you didn't like getting tested."
"I don't like getting teased either."
"Noted and filed."
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