"What... what did you say? Hundreds of... thousands of years old?" I almost choked on my own saliva. I thought someone like Lionel, a thousand-year-old demon, was already a rare creature!
Looking at him, he seemed both demonic and fairy-like, undoubtedly possessing astonishing power. "Are you a rare, pure-blooded elf?"
"You can say that!" he replied with a modest smile.
I leaned closer, carefully observing this ancestor-level being, and whispered softly, "Then... you must be the king of the elves?"
"Well... not exactly. There are elves with even longer lifespans," he said, his narrow phoenix-like eyes shifting as he politely reminded me, "Margie, you're too close. I can sense that Baron Albert is a bit upset. He's watching you!"
"Oh, hehe... I was just curious!" I said, glancing around the hall and noticing Lionel had his back turned to us. How could he know I was close to Hue?
And how did Hue know Lionel was angry?
"Your curiosity always surpasses others!" He chuckled and shook his head.
"Do you know me well?"
"I've just observed you through your words and actions," he said, noticing the necklace around my neck. "Is this a gift from the baron?"
Was this also a guess?
It wasn't hard to guess, but a vampire giving a silver necklace to a human like me was still unexpected!
"I was just bitten by a vampire, so... as a precaution."
Though, thinking about Rui Jones and his strange abilities, these silver chains wouldn't be enough to stop him.
He took my hand and pressed his fingers against my wrist, like an experienced Chinese doctor, calmly saying, "You're severely anemic, and... your liver fire is too strong."
"Hehe... I know, I do have those symptoms."
He removed the bat ring from my left thumb and placed it in my palm, speaking earnestly, "Wearing this ring will hinder your recovery. Its yin energy is too heavy, and it can drain the spiritual power within you that hasn't yet awakened! Margie, don't harm yourself for the sake of love. It's not worth it."
A wave of desolate pain swept through my heart. I had thought Lionel was just using me to awaken his own power, but I hadn't realized it would also harm my body.
The so-called "haunting" truly had a hundred harms and no benefits.
What's worse, he had the audacity to say that once I put it on, I shouldn't take it off.
What I had treasured like a treasure was actually poisonous, just like my love for Lionel. It wasn't the love for a fragrant rose, but rather a beautiful yet deadly poppy.
Hue suddenly opened his arms to me. "Margie, I'll help heal you. Can you trust me?"
I hesitated for a moment before asking, "How will you heal me?"
He chuckled but then pulled me into his embrace.
I was startled by the action. He had just avoided my closeness earlier, so why was he embracing me now to heal me?
His embrace was warm—so warm that I felt a gentle flow of warmth flowing from his chest into my body, spreading slowly and soothingly through my limbs. My cold hands and feet suddenly felt warm, and the energy within me stabilized and stirred...
It was as if I had taken some magical elixir. My senses sharpened, and I felt refreshed and clear-headed.
After a moment, he released me, still wearing a faint smile. If I wasn't mistaken, it was the kind of gentle expression an elder would give to a younger person.
I touched the bandage on my neck, and it felt as if the wound had completely healed. This power was incredible—it could replenish blood, produce new blood, and even heal wounds? If this could be applied in the medical field, how many people in the world could be saved?
"You can remove it now. There's no scar, and you don't need to fear anyone anymore," he said, helping me peel off the bandage.
"Thank you, I feel much better!"
As I spoke, I suddenly heard faint footsteps approaching. I turned and saw Lionel.
Goodness, how sharp had my hearing become?
Lionel's movements were always silent, yet not only could I sense his approach, but I could also feel the anger simmering within him! Yet, his devilishly charming face showed no expression.
I was about to tell Hue about this, but he had already moved instantly to a chair in the hall. And aside from Lionel and me, no one seemed to notice his sudden movement.
"Margie, do you know Hue?" Lionel's suppressed anger was forcibly held back as he gently curved his lips into a smile. He reached out and affectionately brushed a strand of hair by my temple, then, as if reluctant to let go, he twirled a lock of hair around his fingers, playing with it before habitually bringing it to his nose to sniff.
What kind of strange habit was this? Why did he always like to play with my hair?
Frowning, I didn't answer his question but instead asked, "Lionel, does my hair smell bad or good?"
"Huh?" He seemed momentarily confused, then answered seriously, "Of course it smells good. Why, haven't you washed it in a while?"
"If Dene hadn't helped me bathe, it's probably been three days since I last washed it," I said, raising an eyebrow and teasing him. "But I'm glad that even if my hair is dirty and smelly, someone still treats it like a fragrant flower!"
"Hahaha..." His charming laughter erupted once again, drawing the attention of the vampires in the hall who had been engrossed in their bloody games.
"Lionel, why do you always laugh? I'm starting to think you've gone mad. Everyone's looking at us!"
Being with him had already made me the enemy of a group of female vampires. If he kept laughing like this, someone would surely rush over to bite my neck. Miss Monica, for one, seemed eager to do just that.