She walked like a dream dressed in nightmare.
Naked beneath rotting ceremonial robes, the woman's every step made the grass beneath her wither. Her black-veined eyes locked onto Lucien with a hunger that wasn't merely physical—it was primordial.
"Such beautiful blood," she whispered, tongue tracing her lips. "A prince of ruin. A hybrid... touched by both moons. Finally awakened."
Lucien tensed. His claws flexed unconsciously. Beside him, Lilith narrowed her eyes.
"Master, that thing isn't alive," she murmured. "It's a bloodwraith—no, worse. That's a Scarlet Witch, one of the ancients."
The woman giggled, musical and utterly insane.
"Smart little thrall," she said. "But wrong. I'm not just a witch... I'm the mother of thirst. I drank from the first vampire king while your kind still walked upright for the first time."
> [System Alert: Entity Identified – Scarlet Witch: Seraphina of the Hollow Veil]
[Threat Level: UNCLASSIFIED]
[Weakness: Unknown | Immunities: Most physical/elemental | Mental Attacks: Ineffective]
[Warning: Possible Contract Initiation – Resist at all costs unless prepared.]
Lucien took a step forward despite the warning.
"Why are you watching me?"
Seraphina's eyes glowed. "Because I felt you. The moment you tasted true blood and bonded with a vampire, the scent reached me across dimensions."
She lifted her hand—clawed fingers twitching—and the air warped.
The blood from the ground rose, dancing around her in a spiral. It clung to her body like silk, forming a gown of crimson mist that flowed over her breasts and thighs.
Horny tension slithered through Lucien's gut. Lilith shifted beside him, eyes darkening with territorial instinct.
"You're drooling," she hissed.
Lucien swallowed, his eyes glued to Seraphina's curves.
"I can give you power the System never will," the witch purred. "Blood that devours gods. Lust that unravels fate. Let me show you."
She reached out.
Lilith jumped between them, fangs bared. "Back off."
Seraphina sighed. "Jealousy? Cute." She extended her finger—and tapped Lilith on the forehead.
The vampire gasped, dropped to her knees, and collapsed, eyes rolling back, breath shallow. Her body twitched as if in the throes of a dream—or a nightmare.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Lucien roared, claws out.
"She's sleeping," Seraphina said sweetly. "She'll wake… changed. Maybe stronger. Maybe shattered. Depends on how deeply she fears me."
> [System Alert: Lilith Nightshade – Status: Dreamlocked | Unknown consequences.]
Lucien didn't hesitate.
Bloodstep.
He reappeared inches from Seraphina, claws aimed for her throat.
She didn't move.
He struck—
Stopped.
Air solidified around his arms, locking him mid-swing. A thousand crimson runes pulsed in the air between them.
Seraphina leaned in, brushing her lips against his ear.
"I could kill you," she whispered. "But that would be boring."
She placed a finger over his heart.
"Let me brand you. Just once. Not control… just mark you. Then I'll leave you. For now."
> [System Choice: Accept Scarlet Mark – ??? Benefits and Risks | Refuse – Combat Unavoidable]
Warning: Entity may force mark if battle is lost.
Lucien's heart pounded.
Accepting might mean survival. Maybe power.
Refusing?
He'd probably die.
But if he survived with the mark, who would he become?
He stared into her ancient eyes. She saw everything. The rage, the desire, the fracture in his soul the System hadn't filled yet.
He smirked.
"Mark me, bitch."
Her grin widened.
She kissed him.
Not like Lilith had. Not hungry or needy.
This was… domination. Ownership. It burned through his skull, down his spine, into his veins. His knees buckled. His body arched.
> [CRIMSON BRAND ACCEPTED]
[Unique Mark Gained: Witch's Favor – Unknown Effects]
[Alignment Shift: ??? – Tracked by Scarlet Court]
[Warning: You have entered the Scarlet Web. Fate threads altered. Many powers now hunt you.]
When it ended, he collapsed beside Lilith, shaking.
Seraphina knelt beside him, licking blood from his lips. "Mmm… you'll taste better once you break."
She stood and faded into mist.
Gone.
---
Minutes passed.
Lucien sat in silence, watching Lilith twitch in her enchanted sleep. She muttered his name once, twice.
When she finally opened her eyes, they weren't red.
They were black.
"...Lucien?"
Her voice cracked.
He caught her in his arms.
"You okay?"
"I saw her. In my mind. Endless mirrors. My past. My fears. My lust. All… twisted. And you. You were—" She broke off, trembling.
Lucien hugged her tighter. "It's over."
She clung to him, her voice a whisper.
"No, it's just beginning."
---
> [System Update: Bonded Party Skill Tree Unlocked]
Bonded Partner: Lilith Nightshade – Class: Vampire Assassin (Ascended)
New Skills Available:
– Bloodlink Echo: Passively shares minor buffs and damage senses
– Shared Lust: During sex, shared EXP and temporary evolution chance
– Crimson Veil: Once per night, both disappear for 30 seconds into a shadow dimension
Lucien exhaled, brows furrowed.
Sex gave EXP?
"You're seeing the screen again," Lilith muttered, blushing slightly.
He grinned. "Shared EXP. I like that."
"Of course you do."
Suddenly, the trees shook.
Voices. Steel boots. Dozens of them.
Lilith froze. "Hunters."
Lucien cursed. "Moonbreakers?"
"No. Worse. Cruciforms. They don't come to scout. They come to purge."
> [Alert: Incoming Hostile Force – Level Range: 25–40+]
[You are currently Level 17. Escape or ambush advised.]
Lucien's jaw clenched. He turned to Lilith.
"We run."
"No," she said, grabbing his wrist. "We kill one. Just one officer. They always carry codes."
"Codes?"
She nodded. "To bypass the city's shadow wall. We need to get inside before dawn. That's where the next relic is hidden."
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
> [New Quest: Bloodgate Infiltration]
Objective: Kill a Cruciform officer. Acquire the passcode. Reach the city gates before sunrise.
Bonus Objective: Kill without being detected by main force.
A savage grin spread across his face.
"Let's make it fast, then."
---
They moved like predators through the treeline. Lilith vanished into shadows, her steps soundless. Lucien followed, using Bloodstep in short bursts to keep pace.
Ahead, the Cruciforms marched in formation. Thirty men. Black armor marked with holy sigils. At the center, the captain—a tall woman with silver hair, radiant sword, and burning white eyes.
Too strong.
But behind her, to the right…
A lieutenant. Level 28. Spear class.
Perfect.
Lucien licked his lips.
He nodded once at Lilith.
She disappeared.
---
The ambush was precise.
Lucien distracted the outer guards with a thrown blade coated in his own blood. It exploded mid-air in a burst of red mist—Bloodburst skill.
While they blinked—
Lilith struck from behind, slitting the lieutenant's throat in a single elegant sweep.
Lucien caught the body mid-fall and dragged it behind the trees.
> [Target Eliminated: Cruciform Officer]
[Loot Acquired: Soulbound Sigil – City Wall Bypass Active for 12 Hours]
[EXP Gained: +820]
[Level Up – Lv. 18]
Lucien crushed the sigil.
It burned his palm.
A second later, a rune appeared over his chest, pulsing once—and then vanishing.
"Let's move," he said.
But as they turned—
The captain turned her head sharply.
She sniffed the air.
And smiled.
"Oh," she purred. "I smell… him."
Lilith froze.
Lucien whispered, "Run."
---
They sprinted through the forest, leaping over roots and rocks, shadows whipping past.
> [Skill Active: Bloodstep – Cooldown: 15s]
[Status: Detected by High Tier Inquisitor – Evade or Engage]
The moment they passed the wards and reached the city gates, the sigil on Lucien's chest pulsed.
The gate shimmered.
A red opening appeared.
They dove in—just as the captain's holy lance stabbed through the forest where they had just been.
Safe.
For now.
But just before the gate closed, Lucien looked back.
The Inquisitor stood in the woods.
She smiled.
"Next time, bloodspawn," she whispered, eyes blazing. "Next time, I drink your soul."