Bell’s finger was gently held by that small hand.
He didn’t speak.
He only looked at her.
The room was filled with a deathly silence, save for Cecilia’s faint sobbing, sounding as if she had been abandoned by the entire world.
After a long time.
Bell slowly pulled his hand back.
The movement wasn't fast, but it was firm.
Cecilia’s sobbing stopped. She looked up, her watery eyes filled with bewilderment and hurt, as if she didn't understand why Bell would reject her.
“If there is nothing else, please leave.”
Bell spoke, his voice dry and raspy, every word sounding as if it were squeezed from his throat.
“I need to rest.”
He stood up, preparing to walk toward his bed, wanting to use the blankets to completely isolate himself from this terrifying world.
Cecilia nodded, no longer persistent.
“Mhm...”
She let out a soft sound, her voice thick with a nasal tone, sounding aggrieved to the extreme.
She turned around and took small steps toward the door.
That thin, weak back looked so lonely and pitiful in the dim room.
For a fleeting moment, Bell even felt a sense of trance.
Perhaps... she really is just an overly willful girl?
However, the moment this thought arose, he crushed it.
No.
She is a demon.
Just as Cecilia’s hand was about to touch the doorknob.
She stopped.
Then, she suddenly spun around.
No, it wasn't a simple turn.
It was a white blur!
One second she was at the door; the next, Cecilia had appeared behind Bell like a ghost!
Her target wasn't Bell.
It was Lilian!
Thud!
A muffled impact sounded.
Lilian didn't even have time to react before she was slammed against the wall by a massive force.
A fair hand pinned her throat with a death grip.
“What are you doing!”
Bell’s heart skipped a beat. He spun around and let out a roar of fury.
Lilian was lifted by Cecilia with one hand, her feet off the ground. Her throat was being crushed, and her face turned bright red from the lack of oxygen. Her limbs struggled feebly in the air, a raspy, wheezing sound coming from her throat.
“Don't move, Brother.”
Cecilia didn't look back. She only turned her head slightly, glancing at the enraged Bell from the corner of her eye.
Her face still wore that innocent smile, but the words she spoke carried a chilling obsession.
“This woman has ruined the relationship between us.”
She tilted her head as if stating a simple, undeniable fact.
“Don't you think so?”
“Cecilia!” Bell suppressed the fear and anger in his heart. He knew there was no benefit in going head-to-head with this lunatic. “Listen, let her go. Today... I’ll act as if nothing happened.”
This was the greatest concession he could make.
Using oblivion to trade for Lilian’s life.
“Really?”
A spark of light flashed in Cecilia’s eyes.
She seemed to be seriously considering the proposal.
“That’s a very tempting offer.”
She murmured softly, and the hand gripping Lilian’s throat seemed to loosen slightly.
Lilian caught her breath, coughing violently and greedily inhaling the air.
Bell’s heart settled halfway.
However.
In the next second.
Cecilia’s smile became even more brilliant—and more... twisted.
“But, naughty toys need to be punished.”
Her other free hand slowly rose and reached toward Lilian’s face.
In Lilian’s blood-red eyes, intense terror and resistance erupted. She began to struggle violently.
“Don't move.”
Cecilia scolded softly.
“You’re being naughty.”
Her hand roughly forced Lilian’s mouth open.
Then, she reached inside.
Bell’s mind buzzed, turning blank.
He wanted to rush forward, wanted to stop her, but his feet felt as if they were filled with lead, firmly nailed to the spot.
A fear originating from the depths of his soul gripped his heart, rendering him unable to move.
He could only watch.
Watch as Cecilia’s fingers felt around inside Lilian’s mouth.
Finally, they stopped at the two sharp fangs belonging to the vampire.
“Don't move.”
A faint glow, composed of countless tiny runes, began to emanate from Cecilia’s hand.
It was... Enhancement Magic.
“Don't move.”
She repeated it again, like a comfort, or perhaps a final sentence.
Two of her fingers gripped Lilian’s left fang.
Then.
She wrenched it hard.
Crack!
A crisp, sickening sound of bone snapping suddenly exploded in the silent room!
“Aaaauuugh!”
A shrill scream that didn't sound human erupted from the depths of Lilian’s throat!
Blood instantly spilled from the corner of her mouth, staining her pale lips and Cecilia’s fair hand red.
“Cecilia!”
Extreme anger finally overcame his fear.
Bell’s reason snapped completely. Like a maddened beast, he roared and charged at Cecilia!
However, Cecilia simply let go.
Lilian slid down the wall like a pile of mud, curling up on the floor. She clutched her bleeding mouth, her entire body twitching violently.
Cecilia turned around to face the charging Bell.
She didn't defend, nor did she dodge.
She simply opened her hand, displaying the blood-stained palm to Bell.
In her palm lay a broken, white fang, still trailing threads of blood.
Bell’s footsteps came to a sudden halt.
He stopped less than a step away from Cecilia, his body trembling violently from rage and horror.
“Bell, this woman can’t live with you.”
Cecilia held up the fang, her smile as pure as an angel’s.
She was like a child showing Bell the most beautiful flower she had just picked from the garden.
“See? I helped you pull out her dangerous parts.”
Her voice was as soft as if she were sharing a sweet secret.
“This way, she won't accidentally hurt you.”
She took a step forward, holding the bloody fang out to Bell.
“Now, she’s safe.”
“She can... stay by Brother’s side forever.”
What was this?
A punishment?
Or... a gift?
Bell’s brain could no longer think.
His stomach churned, and a mixture of nausea and rage rushed to the top of his head.
“Bell, why won't you take it?”
Seeing Bell’s lack of reaction, Cecilia leaned in closer, almost pressing against him.
She held the fang to Bell’s lips, her small scarlet tongue peeking out to lightly lick the blood from her own lips.
“This is the gift I’m giving you.”
Her breath carried a metallic scent of blood mixed with a sickly sweet milky fragrance.
“Or perhaps...”
Her tone suddenly shifted, and in the depths of those pure eyes, a thick, inseparable jealousy swirled.
“Does Bell prefer the way she was before?”
“Do you like her using this...”
Her finger lightly tapped the sharp fang.
“...to bite you?”
Boom!
Those words were like a thunderclap, striking hard in Bell’s mind.
Cecilia smiled with satisfaction as she saw Bell’s face turn instantly pale.
She no longer waited for Bell’s response.
She reached out with her other clean hand and gently took Bell’s cold, stiff right hand.
Then, she placed the warm fang, still covered in viscous blood, into Bell’s palm with a touch that was almost reverent.
She closed his fingers, forcing him to grip the cruel “gift.”
“Keep it safe, Bell.”
She rubbed her cheek against Bell’s shoulder like a pampered cat.
“This is the proof of our reconciliation.”
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