Chapter 9: Intimate Encounter with Death

Emily took a few steps back, feeling hesitant despite finding the vampire race mysterious, intriguing, and entertaining. The idea of becoming one of them made her uneasy.

Boris smiled with his eyes narrowed, his beautiful eyes hidden beneath long and thick eyelashes. "Don't worry, it will happen when you're ready." Of course, it also depended on when he was ready.

The initial embrace was a dangerous process, and most humans wouldn't survive it. Those who did were seen as chosen by a higher power. Emily possessed some unusual abilities, but she hadn't been tested in all aspects.

The selected humans must have a strong physique and strong willpower; otherwise, they might lose their lives due to excessive blood loss during the initial embrace.

When blood loss is severe, a person's consciousness becomes scattered. At that moment, their own consciousness must pull them back from the brink of death, or else once they step into the gates of the afterlife, there would be no return.

Emily was a rare talent. If she could be utilized by the Lesenbar family, she would become a powerful force in the fight against the Secret Party. Perhaps she could even strengthen the Lesenbar family herself.

Moreover... Boris looked Emily up and down, finding her quite interesting. She might bring long-lost laughter to the gloomy castle.

"Alright, it's a deal! You can't touch me until I'm ready!" Emily suddenly walked up to Boris and extended her pinky finger to make a pinky promise.

Boris and Benjamin burst into laughter, as if they had heard the funniest joke in the world.

Emily widened her eyes, staring at them roundly, and their laughter ceased. Boris extended his finger, mimicking a pinky promise with Emily.

After sealing the promise, Emily felt reassured. She relaxed completely, as if she had returned to her own home. She sat on the sofa, touching things here and there, oblivious to the fact that she had fallen into their trap.

A covenant between a human and a vampire cannot be sealed with a pinky promise; that is a human way, and it holds no power over vampires. If one wants to make a vampire abide by a promise, the only way is to form a blood covenant. Both parties must take a small amount of each other's blood, mix it in a magical vial, and the party bound to the agreement must drink it. If both parties are bound, then both must consume the mixture.

Boris took another sip of blood, his eyes fixated on Emily through the blood-red cup. She was truly adorable in her innocence! He was getting eager to turn her into a member of the vampire clan, wondering what new abilities would be awakened once she became a vampire.

Meanwhile, Benjamin stood by with a furrowed brow. This initial embrace not only posed a danger to Emily but also to Boris himself. One misstep, and the Lesenbar family would lose their only elder.

"Benjamin, take the little girl for a tour and let her choose a room," Boris ordered.

"Yes, Father!" Benjamin nodded slightly and gestured for Emily to follow him.

Emily still maintained an indifferent and compassionate demeanor towards Benjamin. While she was supposed to follow Benjamin's lead, it turned into her aimlessly wandering around. Fortunately, most of the people were out hunting at that time; otherwise, she might have stumbled upon someone bathing.

With her hands behind her back, she leisurely hopped from one place to another, entering rooms, then leaving after a quick glance. Initially, she opened doors to take a look, but later found it uninteresting and simply peeked through the door without entering. She insisted on opening every door, making Benjamin exasperated as he became the one responsible for closing them.

"Emily! How long are you going to keep provoking me?" Benjamin couldn't hold back any longer and finally spoke up.

Emily glanced at him sideways. "I'm not angry with a coward! It's not your fault for being timid!" She said it that way, but her tone carried a hint of anger and sarcasm, making Benjamin feel uncomfortable. After a moment's thought, he realized that he was indeed at fault. At the very least, she had misunderstood him, and Benjamin felt relieved.

Emily opened the final door on the second floor and stood at the entrance, feeling deflated. Pouting, she said, "How boring! Every room looks the same. I thought it would be like a palace, but it's just like a hotel!"

Just as Benjamin was about to say something, Emily's eyes suddenly lit up. It was as if a light bulb had switched on above her head. Observing her face, Benjamin had a feeling that she had some mischievous intentions.

"Come on!" Emily grabbed Benjamin's hand and ran up the stairs to the top floor. Benjamin finally realized what she was up to and quickly held her back, saying, "No! Father's room is off-limits!"

Seeing Benjamin's anxious face, Emily became even more excited. "The more mysterious it is, the more interesting it must be!" She exclaimed, then broke free from Benjamin's grip and turned to push open a grand, carved wooden door.

A scent of roses filled the air as they entered the room. Surprisingly, this room had windows, and the moonlight softly streamed in. There were several pots of flowers by the window, their vibrant red color dazzling under the moonlight, emitting a faint halo that made them appear as if they were glowing from within.

Emily was captivated by these flowers and walked towards them slowly. The shape of the flowers resembled roses, so this must be the blood rose Benjamin mentioned. The flower buds were also red, and the glow she had seen earlier emanated from these buds, enveloped by the petals, resembling red lanterns.

At the same time, the scent of the flowers carried a strong aura of death. Emily noticed the scent of blood here and followed it to see that even the soil was red. Could it be that these flowers grew by being nourished with blood?

Before she could unravel the mystery, a large group of people suddenly appeared in the courtyard below. The air carried the scent of humans and vampires. Some humans were held captive by vampires, trembling in fear like frightened little chicks. Emily could sense their terror, and her own heart started to tremble in response.

If she were to become a vampire, would she have to hunt and kill humans like this?

She saw Alexander stepping forward, and the vampires immediately lined up. Alexander stood with his hands behind his back, surveying the humans. He pointed his finger at the most beautiful girl among them, who appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old. She had straight black hair, not very fair skin, and a delicate appearance. Her big, watery eyes were filled with fear, and her body trembled incessantly.

One of the vampires who was holding her respectfully brought the girl before Alexander. He clasped her waist as if she were merchandise and returned to the castle. The girl struggled desperately, but as a small human, how could she break free from Alexander's grip?

Emily turned around to see what was happening, but Alexander appeared in Boris's bedroom, holding the girl in his arms.

Upon seeing Emily and Benjamin, Alexander snorted disdainfully, "Aren't you afraid of Father's blame? Don't think you can do whatever you want just because Father spoils you!"

Benjamin was also in a panic. Without Boris's permission, no one was allowed in this room. Faced with Alexander's questioning, he didn't retort as he had done before. He came over and tugged on Emily's arm, whispering, "Let's go outside!"

Boris was not quick to anger, but when he did, it was more terrifying than a flood or a ferocious beast. Benjamin had witnessed a four-hundred-year-old vampire who trespassed into a room without Boris's consent, and Boris, in a fit of rage, sucked him dry of blood. Given that Benjamin himself was just a branch of the bloodline, and Emily being a mere human, Boris would show no mercy.

Emily shook off Benjamin's hand and fearlessly stared at Alexander, pointing at the girl, "What are you going to do to her?"

The girl clung to Emily, looking at her pleadingly as if grasping at a lifeline.

Alexander sneered disdainfully at her and didn't answer. With a single elongated fingernail, sharp as a knife, he swiftly cut the girl's wrist. The wound wasn't deep, so there was no spurting blood.

He held the girl's hand above the blood rose, and the blood trickled onto the petals, nourishing the yet-to-bloom flower. Immediately, the flower blossomed, its crimson petals unfolding and radiating a dazzling glow in the moonlight, brimming with allure.

After pouring the blood, Alexander licked the girl's wrist, and the wound immediately healed. He then lifted the girl by the waist, intending to leave. Emily stood in his way and asked, "Where are you taking her?"

Alexander revealed his sharp fangs, his green eyes emitting a haunting glow like that of a Persian cat, flickering like ghostly lights in the darkness. He smirked and lightly punctured the girl's neck with his teeth, leaving a shallow wound. "What do you think?"

The girl was terrified, her legs weakened. If Alexander wasn't holding her tightly by the waist, she would have collapsed like a puddle of mud on the ground.

Outside, cries and shouts suddenly merged into one, and a strong smell of blood wafted in through the window. Emily felt nauseous, and her previous curiosity was replaced by the stark reality before her. She didn't want to be one of them, not under any circumstances!

Alexander continued to carry the girl, his face displaying a contemptuous and mocking smile. Become a princess? Dream on!

Summoning courage she didn't know she had, Emily suddenly blocked Alexander's path, stretching out her hands to stop him. "I want this girl..."

Alexander looked at her with an amused smile. Was this a challenge to him?

Benjamin pulled Emily aside and, with rare seriousness, said, "Emily! Don't be reckless! You can't defeat him!"

But she couldn't simply watch a vibrant life perish in front of her. She wasn't a saint, nor was she driven by overflowing sympathy. It was just that the girl looked at her with such pleading eyes. If she didn't save her, that gaze would haunt her for the rest of her life.

In the midst of the stalemate, Boris appeared at the door. He glanced at the girl in Alexander's arms, then swiftly took her away, sinking his teeth into her throat.

Emily screamed, covering her eyes. When she opened them again, the girl lay pale on the ground.

"Murderers! You're all murderers!" Emily shouted uncontrollably, wanting to run outside. She suddenly regretted coming here. In all her years, death had never been this close.

Boris intercepted her, allowing Emily to struggle in his embrace. Her hands struck him repeatedly, causing some pain. Just as Benjamin had said, this girl's abilities were not ordinary!

Emily grew tired of the turmoil and stopped. Her mind couldn't think anymore, except for the instinctual desire to escape. It was a blank state.

The girl on the ground suddenly twitched and climbed to her feet, standing before Boris. She bowed respectfully and said, "Master!"