Beauty and the Grim

The room was filled with a combination of red light and dark corners, its edges surrounded by metallic constructs, bound chains, and a myriad of torture equipment stained with dried blood.

"What is this place?" Enzo asked as he looked around. The room beyond the door looked like a combination of a torture chamber, a laboratory, and a grave.

There were so many stone coffins around.

"Ehn, it's the failed prison of the Red Sun Legion," Nibbleskin responded with affirmation.

The Red Sun Legion had imprisoned the vampire queen Victoria in hopes of extracting her infinite life formula and other secrets. They'd locked an honorable being like her in such a place and trapped their most talented scientists with her, hoping for success.

Unfortunately, they didn't have the lifespan to see it through. One after the other, they died—trapped here with her—until only she remained.

"Ohh…" Enzo's eyes panned to the left, and his body followed suit, landing firmly on a black metallic coffin standing at the helm of the room.

Woosh

Before he knew it, Nibbleskin flew from his shoulder and landed on top of the black coffin.

"Miss Victoria, are you awake?" Nibbleskin's voice resounded.

Of course, he received no response—the room was silent.

"Ohh yes, I'm doing quite well, how's your health?"

"No no, I was here before you were asleep then."

"I'm sorry, my lady."

But for some reason, Nibbleskin continued having a full-on conversation with himself. It was… extremely strange.

"Anyway, I think I have a solution to your… problem," Nibbleskin said, turning to Enzo and beckoning him forward.

Enzo, confused, walked slowly toward him.

"She wants to smell your blood. Stick your hand out," Nibbleskin said.

By now, Enzo's wound had sealed shut, but dried blood still stained his fingertips.

'This obsession with my blood is scary. Should I trust them still?' Enzo thought.

He didn't know what Nibbleskin was, but he knew Victoria was a vampire—and vampires killed people. Was releasing her a good idea? What if she decided to kill him?

"Don't be scared, kid. Lady Victoria is a vegetarian," Nibbleskin said with an awkward smile, clearly understanding his hesitation.

"Yeah right," Enzo nearly broke into a bitter laugh.

A vegetarian vampire? That didn't even sound remotely funny to him.

"Whatever. The objective was to free her anyway," Enzo steeled himself.

The objectives of a voyage weren't things he could abandon. They had to be completed. If she did kill him, then he wouldn't be considered a failure.

Besides… it's not like he had a choice.

Enzo stretched his hand forward toward the coffin, and a second later the room's lights began to flicker, causing a moment of panic.

"Really? Are you sure?" Nibbleskin's voice rang out after a few moments, as if he were hearing a response from Victoria.

It was a strange way of communicating, and Enzo could only watch with suspicion.

"Kid, you're the best. Really," Nibbleskin smiled widely.

"Quickly, place your hand on the coffin and release her."

Enzo was their ticket out of here—his earlier guess had been right!

'I hope this doesn't blow up in my face,' Enzo thought as he climbed the stairs to stand before the coffin. He then stretched out his hand and placed it firmly on the surface.

[Bloodline of the Night detected]

[Automatic binding activated]

[Congratulations, you have received the First Treasure of the Night: The Void Coffin]

[The night conceals many secrets, things hidden and clothed in insanity. The Void Coffin is one of those secrets—a treasure of divine nature.]

The coffin beamed with white light, glowing rings coiling around it as if activating its innate power.

Suddenly, a wave of weakness washed over Enzo. His strength drained rapidly, yet his hand wouldn't budge from the coffin.

"Fucker!!" he cursed, his eyes darting to Nibbleskin in frustration and anger.

Before he knew it, his body collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

⸻

Hours later…

"Damn…" Enzo woke with a pounding headache and a heavy feeling of exhaustion. His eyes were bloodshot, and his pale skin had turned even whiter. He had never felt this close to death before.

"What the hell…" he muttered, rubbing his forehead. He was lying atop one of the torture tables in the red room.

"Ohh, you're awake?" Nibbleskin suddenly appeared beside him, lounging on a nearby table.

"You!!" Enzo's eyes lit with rage as he pointed at the feline, his voice full of frustration.

"Hm?" Nibbleskin tilted his head in confusion and opened his mouth, revealing his sharp teeth in what might've been a smile. It was an awkward scene.

"What are you two doing?"

All of a sudden, a calm, feminine voice echoed beside them.

There, a beautiful woman with long silver hair, red eyes, and skin as pale as fresh snow sat elegantly in a red gown that draped down her long, slender legs.

"Ahh, Lady Victoria! Don't worry about us—my friend here is just a bit slow," Nibbleskin said in a cutesy tone, leaping into her lap.

"Hmm," Victoria smiled softly as she stroked his head. He was, after all, a rather adorable little thing.

'So that's her… the Vampire Queen…' Enzo thought.

His objective had been to release this legendary being—and here she was, right before him.

She was even more beautiful than he had imagined, radiating nobility and pride. He'd never seen a woman like her in his life.

"You're called what, by the way?" Victoria suddenly turned to Enzo, her crimson eyes fixed on him.

Truth be told, she was intrigued. Her plan had been simple: use this boy's blood to awaken. But after he touched the coffin… her connection with it had been severed.

Curious indeed.