Chapter 51: Hino Wuma (Part I)

"What are you doing here?" Cass’s voice rang out unexpectedly, tinged with a hint of anxiety.

Hearing his voice, I jerked my head to "look" toward him. I clenched my fists tightly and then released them; my hands were trembling slightly.

Staring at a fixed point in the void, I could see nothing; there was only pitch-black darkness before my eyes.

"What’s wrong?" His footsteps drew closer. Along with the shift in the air, I felt his hand reaching out toward my cheek.

Instinctively, I tilted my head, evading his touch.

I imagined his hand frozen in mid-air.

"Next time you want to come out, tell me," Cass finally spoke after a long silence.

"Aren't you going to ask how I got out?" I lifted my chin slightly as a cold liquid slid from the corner of my eye, leaving a damp trail down my cheek.

Silence.

"Who are you?" In the quiet, a sharp, feminine voice suddenly barked out—it was the woman from before.

"Who am I?" I tilted my head, looking bewildered. "Who am I indeed?"

"You’re not human!" the woman hissed. Immediately, a chilling current of air carrying a dangerous aura lunged straight at me. I faced the attack directly, standing in a daze without dodging. For a split second, a moment of weakness flickered through my mind: if I were hit like this and died... that wouldn't be so bad...

A pair of warm, large hands pulled me into an embrace. The fierce attack vanished into nothingness before me, leaving only a light breeze to stir the hair on my forehead.

"Cass, you!" Thwarted in her attack, the woman sounded exasperated.

"Miss Wuma, show some mercy," Cass said, his voice flat.

I was held in his arms—that once familiar embrace I had longed for so deeply—but now, it felt only cold.

My head throbbed as if it were splitting open. Aurora was screaming in my mind, mocking me—mocking my momentary weakness and my incompetence.

"Who is she?" the woman’s voice demanded, questioning Cass.

Cass remained silent.

"Who is she?" Her voice grew increasingly shrill. "She isn't an ordinary vampire; she can walk in the sun!"

"She is my guest," Cass spoke slowly.

I was confused. Does this woman not know who I am? Does she not know I am the missing Queen of the Demon Realm she mentioned? Did Cass not tell her?

"Men! Take this vampire to the interrogation room," she commanded.

"She is my guest." Cass’s arm tightened around me, shielding me, his voice deepening.

"I, Hino Wuma, command you in my capacity as the Director of the Inquisition!"

Hino Wuma... this woman is the Director of the Inquisition?

"I do not like being commanded." Cass picked me up and turned to leave.

"Cass!" Behind us, Hino Wuma shrieked in rage.

Cass suddenly stiffened and halted his steps.

Within that familiar embrace, the five fingers of my right hand formed a blade, pressing against his throat. That embrace was so familiar that even without sight, I could accurately find his weakness.

Cass did not move; I did not speak.

"Ca—" Hino Wuma chased after us aggressively, but froze when she saw the scene. "Cass? What kind of play is this now?"

"Send me back to the Demon Realm," I said coldly, my blade-like fingers pressed against Cass’s neck, though my hand was trembling slightly.

"Hehe, our great Lord Cass has been scratched by the little kitten he’s keeping." Hino Wuma clapped her hands, laughing with a touch of schadenfreude.

Cass still said nothing. After a long moment, a wave of warm energy enveloped me. By the time I realized the danger, I had already lost consciousness.

When I woke again, I was back in that room—the room I could never seem to leave.

I smelled the metallic sweetness of fresh blood.

"Are you hungry?" Cass held a cup to my lips.

I pushed it away with a sudden shove. The still-warm liquid splashed onto my hands, feeling thick and sticky.

"Solano killed Alastor and Albus... is it true?" After a long silence, I heard my own voice; it sounded hollow.

"Yes," Cass replied softly.

"Liar! How would you know?!" I jumped up, lunging toward the source of the voice. "How do you know! You're lying!"

"I have been to the Demon Realm. I saw Solano’s slaughter with my own eyes." He allowed me to bite and pummel him, his voice calm, as if indulging an unreasonable young girl.

Alastor, Alastor...

On that day, he said: I swear by blood, from this day forward, I am loyal only to you.

On that day, he said: I swear by blood, I will stay with you forever, so that you are never lonely.

On that day, he told me: I am right by your side. When you need me, call my name, and I will appear.

Sobbing, I bit down hard on Cass, drawing his blood.

It was a sweet taste, identical to the blood Cass brought me to drink every day. All this time, he had been feeding me with his own blood.

He didn't move or shake me off, letting me bite him.

Instead, I let go, slumped onto the floor in defeat, and clutched my head. The pain was unbearable.

Aurora, Aurora, you foolish, cowardly woman! Aurora, Aurora...

The former Queen was screaming, weeping; I could feel her grief and her hatred.

I clutched my head and screamed, suffering beyond words.

"Aurora, Aurora!" Cass’s voice sounded in my ear as I was pulled tightly into a warm embrace.

But despite the familiar warmth, I remained cold all over, trembling violently.

Wrapped in that familiar heat, I lost consciousness once more.