I looked up and met a pair of blood-red eyes. Her delicate, pale face still bore a mad, drunken smile, yet it felt strangely familiar to me.
Her fangs suddenly retracted, and the bloody holes on her neck healed instantly, leaving no trace.
She looked at me in surprise, and I stared back at her in equal astonishment. In that moment, memories of happier times flashed through my mind—laughter and play seemed to echo in my ears, yet they felt so distant, like a hazy mist that had quietly dissipated, leaving no trace behind.
We stood there, locked in a tense stare. Her crimson lips trembled slightly, and two streaks of bloody tears slid down from her eyes. Her eye sockets darkened, and her face grew even paler. Though her appearance was horrifying, it also revealed that she still harbored some unforgotten feelings.
When I came back to my senses, I realized that I, too, was already in tears.
She was Judy—one of my closest friends who used to work as a waitress at my Saturday restaurant!
I didn't find her terrifying; instead, I felt a deep sense of familiarity. The joy of reuniting after life and death separated us was indescribable, and my heart was filled with countless emotions. After all, it was because of my cousin, Bevis, who had been targeted by these vampires, that she had ended up like this. "Judy, are… are you okay?"
I tentatively reached out and took her cold hand, pulling a tissue from my pocket to wipe the bloody tears from her face. My heart ached unbearably. How could I possibly kill a sister like her?
The mission Dene had given me was truly cruel!
She whispered my name in a broken voice, "Margie… it's really you, Margie. Did… did you come here for me?"
"Yes, where are Ada and Nina? And Iven, Ballo, and Jeff—where are they?" I pulled her out of the room.
A server had just pushed a service cart inside.
I could tell she wanted to hug me, but the moment she got close, her fangs suddenly and uncontrollably appeared. She was clearly startled by this herself and quickly turned to face the wall.
I tried to approach her, but she suddenly snarled at me in agitation, "No—Margie, we're not friends anymore. I'm a vampire, a terrifying vampire… Your blood is too sweet, I can't control myself… Margie, please, don't come near me!"
She tried to retreat back into the room in fear, but I quickly grabbed her. "Judy, vampires aren't scary. You're still my sister. Let me take you away, okay? I'll help you, I promise."
I believed I could convince Dene to help them escape their fate as bloodsucking pawns.
After the server left, the door was suddenly pulled open again. Benson's round body rolled into the doorway like a ball, and he let out a sinister sneer. "Miss Margie, don't you know this is forbidden among vampires? Once you become one of us, you can no longer associate with your former loved ones. That's the rule of the vampire clan."
"Judy is my friend!" I glared at him defiantly.
"Hahaha… friend?" He smirked at Judy. "Darling, did you know? This Miss Margie is an elf. Her blood isn't just sweeter than an ordinary human's—it can also help you enhance your powers. You'll soon learn to control your impulses, just a little taste will do."
Judy's eyes instantly glazed over. Benson was hypnotizing her?!
It seemed his power was truly extraordinary, capable of hypnotizing even his fellow vampires.
"Shut up!" I shouted at him.
Damn this filth! If I didn't kill him today, who knew how many more people would die at his hands!
"Elder Benson, we need to talk privately. You don't mind, do you?"
"Hmm… If Miss Margie isn't afraid of me suddenly attacking you, you're welcome to come in and chat with me!"
Judy grabbed my arm. "Margie, don't go in."
I smiled at her. "Judy, don't worry. I'll take you away from here."
She looked at me with concern, bit her lip, and finally let go. "Alright, be careful! He's really terrifying." She had always believed that I was someone who could keep my promises.
It was a luxurious suite, with bloodstains scattered across the carpet, emitting a horrifying stench. To them, perhaps this was what they called "fragrance."
I just managed to suppress the urge to vomit and sat down on the sofa across from him. "Elder Benson, I still want to know where my other five friends are."
"Miss Margie, I admire people who speak frankly. Your cousin, Bevis Bain, is wanted in my Western European region. Everyone connected to him must die! Of course, that includes you!"
As he spoke, his round eyes glared menacingly, and his fangs clicked into view. His voice deepened. "If the Baron finds out you're a member of the Marcus organization, he probably won't let you stay by his side anymore. You should be well aware of that, right?"
Threatening me?!
I clenched my teeth and slowly repeated, "I just want to know where my other five friends are. Stop wasting my time!"
His bloated face twisted into a grimace. "Fine, since that's the case, I'll let you die with a clear conscience!"
He glared at me, casually picked up a cigar, lit it, and blew out a smoke ring before speaking. "The three men have already been dealt with. They were too difficult to tame, as you know. If their creators didn't want to keep them, they had no choice but to go out and become madmen. It would only cause unnecessary trouble for the vampire clan otherwise."
The fury in my heart was uncontrollable. These bloodthirsty, heartless devils!
"What about Nina and Ada?"
"That Nina… heh, she was a bit foolish. She didn't realize she had become a vampire and kept trying to escape. Then, when the sun came up—poof! She vanished just like that!" He seemed to revel in the excitement of her death, sneering mockingly. "It's truly a pity. She just wanted to go back to her boyfriend." He sighed, as if lost in reflection. "Women are such strange creatures. Even after becoming vampires, they can't escape the lure of love."
I clenched my fists tightly, but tears still streamed down my face. Nina had treated me like a younger sister, always caring for me with such tenderness. I never imagined she would disappear like this. If I didn't kill this damn Benson, I would never be able to extinguish the hatred in my heart!
"What about Ada? Is she at least okay?"
"Ada? Heh… she's doing well. Her creator took her away. You know, the vampire who turned her by biting her and giving her his blood. He's one of my subordinates, a manager. He treats her very well!"