~Chapter 108~
A few hours earlier.
After giving Rubiana the garlic spray, Damien locked himself inside his room.
But still—her scent lingered.
Sweet and dizzying, like flowers in bloom.
Until now, Damien had thought vampires were simply weak-willed creatures, slaves to their thirst.
But now he realized he was wrong.
The moment he faced Rubiana after being bitten, he had been consumed by an overwhelming urge.
“I must be insane.”
He ran his hand through his hair with a heavy sigh.
Even though she was the one he cherished most, the moment her fragrance reached him, he had wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and drink her blood.
‘Why am I like this…?’
He had heard some humans smelled especially sweet to vampires.
But he never imagined that his most beloved’s blood would be this tempting.
‘Is it just Ruby’s blood…? Or because I love her so much…?’
“Hey, mister.”
The bat’s voice broke through Damien’s troubled thoughts.
“Hah, look at you. Can’t even control yourself after smelling that blood.”
The battered bat mocked him from its silver cage, swollen eyes peering out.
“That woman’s blood smells good, doesn’t it? Top quality.”
Damien scowled.
“Don’t you dare say another word.”
“Why deny it?” the bat chuckled, stretching its tiny legs lazily.
“Looks to me like you love her.”
“….”
“When you love someone, their blood always smells sweeter.”
The bat leaned back as if reminiscing.
“I had trouble with that once, too…”
Damien didn’t reply. He only walked to the door and locked it—double, triple locks.
He couldn’t risk losing control around Rubiana.
The bat snickered.
“Won’t help you. You don’t understand how cunning a starving vampire can be, fool.”
Its blood-red eyes gleamed.
“Humans are weaker than you think. There are selfish ones, sure… but also selfless, devoted ones. And vampires are always drawn to the latter. The cruel ones’ blood tastes like ash.”
It grinned.
“So no matter what you do—it won’t matter.”
Even a weak curse-vampire was still a vampire. Its words carried centuries of knowledge.
Still, Damien fetched chains and began preparing to bind himself.
He also gave his servant the strange warning for Rubiana: not to open her door to anyone that night.
When he opened his eyes, he saw a familiar figure.
‘Where… am I?’
Hadn’t he locked himself in with the vampire?
But the moment he saw her, all thought vanished.
The woman he loved—her ebony-black hair, her jewel-like eyes.
And her fragrance—sweet, dizzying, irresistible.
He reached out. She was already in his arms.
Her neck, pale and slender, lay bare before him.
Beneath that thin skin flowed blood like ripened strawberries.
He inhaled deeply, drunk on the scent, and lowered his fangs toward her throat.
But then—
“…!”
Her fragile neck trembled in his grasp.
So delicate he could hold it in one hand.
So weak he always wanted to wrap her in warmth.
And he realized—he was about to pierce that very neck with his fangs.
“Damien…?”
Her soft voice pulled him back to himself. He tore his mouth away from her neck.
Through blurred vision, he saw Rubiana’s worried face.
“Damien, are you all right?”
She clasped his hands in hers, full of concern for the very man who had almost bitten her.
“Ah…”
His gaze fell on her wrists.
So thin. So frail. He had always wanted her to eat better, to gain more strength—
Not to tear that tender skin for blood.
Shame crushed him. He grabbed his head.
“What… what have I done…”
Clenching his teeth, he raised his hand.
“Wait, Damien—!”
Smack!
He slapped himself hard across the face.
“Stop! Don’t do that!”
Rubiana seized his hand to stop him. His cheek was already red and swollen.
“I’m sorry, Ruby,” he whispered, drowning in guilt.
“I should never have…”
“It’s okay. I’m fine.”
“Why didn’t you use the garlic spray?” Damien asked bitterly.
“You should’ve sprayed me.”
“How could I do that?” she frowned.
“Clearly you were being controlled, not acting on your own will.”
“But if you were in danger—”
“Damien.”
She called his name firmly.
“Think about it the other way. If it were me… would you spray me in the eyes?”
Damien fell silent. He knew the truth.
Even if Rubiana turned vampire and came for his neck, he could never hurt her.
“More importantly, Damien…”
Her serious eyes met his, full of concern.
“You look like you’re struggling. Do you… want blood?”
In truth, Damien remembered nothing of leaving his locked room or walking to hers.
His instincts had led him here.
But he forced a lie.
“No. I’m fine. Earlier, I just lost my mind for a moment.”
In reality, resisting his thirst was agony.
But he couldn’t admit it—not to her.
“I can endure three days easily. Don’t worry.”
Rubiana gazed silently at him.
Just as Damien feared she’d seen through his lie—
Shhhk!
A silver dagger flashed.
“Ruby!!”
She cut her own arm and thrust it toward him.
“Drink.”
The sweet fragrance of her blood filled the air.
Damien’s eyes wavered, trembling with desire.
