The Portal: Life with the Vampire and Werewolf Queens
Chapter 8: Unveiling History and Deepening Bonds
Jiro awoke to the faint clatter of dishes from the kitchen. As he descended the stairs, he found Vespera alone at the dining table, quietly enjoying a simple breakfast of bread and coffee prepared by Miya.
Noticing Lyra's absence, he inquired, "Where's Lyra?" as he prepared himself a cup of coffee. Vespera offered a slight smile and replied, "Miya took her to the market to shop and teach her how to select fresh vegetables and meat. I thought you'd be pleased it's just the two of us now—without that noisy dog around."
"W-What do you mean by that?" Jiro asked, slightly taken aback.
Vespera smirked with a hint of defiance, "Aren't you happy it's just me with you?"
"Of course I'm happy, but I don't understand why you seem to dislike Lyra being around," Jiro responded, his tone gentle yet curious.
For the first time, Jiro and Vespera were left alone in the house, and the serene atmosphere provided an opportunity for a more profound conversation. As he sipped his coffee, Jiro gazed at Vespera, as if trying to decipher her emotions.
After a moment of silence, he spoke, "Vespera, I'd like to know how you feel being human now, especially since you were once a vampire. If you're comfortable, I'd love to hear your thoughts."
Vespera paused, uncertain of Jiro's interest in the matter, but decided to share her truth. "I'm not sure why you're asking, Jiro, but I'll answer honestly," she began, toying with her bread using her fork.
"My body feels weak now, and I tire easily—nothing like when I was a vampire, when my strength seemed boundless.
Back then, using my powers made me feel invincible, as if nothing could stop me." She paused, her gaze dropping to the table, as if hesitant about her next words.
"But as a human, I no longer crave blood, which makes it easier for me to blend in with others when we're out. Still, sometimes when I use my powers, I can smell blood—especially yours, Jiro."
Jiro chuckled at her revelation, though a trace of curiosity lingered on his face. "Really? No wonder you sometimes look at me strangely!" he teased, taking a sip of his coffee.
Vespera grinned, a mischievous lilt in her voice as she added, "Yes, sometimes I feel like biting you when I turn into a vampire at night! But don't worry, I won't—I promise!" Their laughter filled the air, the lighthearted jest easing the tension in their exchange.
She's even thinking of biting me to drink my blood, Jiro mused silently to himself.
Yet, her words sparked his curiosity. "Why do you turn into a vampire every night?" he asked, his tone laced with concern.
Vespera shook her head shyly, "I don't know the truth either. I just wake up in the middle of the night as a vampire again. But I don't mean to, Jiro, and I have no intention of hurting anyone. It scares me when it happens." Jiro fell into thought—her words weighed heavily on his mind. It seemed neither she nor Lyra fully controlled their powers, especially during sleep, fueling his growing worry.
Amid their conversation, Jiro decided to probe further into Vespera's past. "Vespera, do you know anything about yourself—or Lyra? Do you recall anything from your past?" he asked, his voice gentle yet intrigued.
Vespera shook her head, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I have no clear memories from my past. I only know I was a vampire, and I feel special—like I'm no ordinary being. But I don't know why or how."
She paused before continuing, "Honestly, I get irritated around Lyra. It feels wrong for me to be with a werewolf. I can't say if she's wronged me, but when I smell werewolf blood—especially hers—it angers me for reasons I can't explain."
Jiro's tone hardened as he scolded her, "Don't fight with Lyra, Vespera. To me, you're like siblings—you shouldn't hurt each other." Vespera scratched her head, embarrassed by her feelings. "I'm trying to stay calm, Jiro, but sometimes Lyra starts the arguments between us. I don't know how to stop myself when I feel this way!"
Jiro understood that Vespera's irritation toward werewolves stemmed from her former identity as the vampire queen—a detail Miya had shared earlier.
Though he knew she shouldn't be blamed, he pleaded tenderly, "Vespera, just avoid clashing with Lyra. Despite your differences, peace between you is important. And if you argue, don't use your powers to hurt her—promise me that." Vespera nodded, her eyes reflecting respect for Jiro, and in that moment, their bond seemed to deepen.
As they spoke, Jiro couldn't shake Miya's words from his mind—that Vespera was once a ruthless warlord who slaughtered werewolves. Yet before him, she appeared stripped of that hardness, revealing vulnerability and sincerity instead. He smiled to himself, pondering how her heart was softening in his presence.
A while later, Jiro ventured into a more personal question. "Vespera, if given the chance, what would you prefer—to be a vampire or to remain human?" he asked, his eyes brimming with curiosity as he observed her reaction. Vespera froze, seemingly caught off guard.
"Why are you asking that, Jiro? Are you testing me to see if I'll say something wrong?" she inquired, a flicker of doubt in her voice.
After a brief pause, she chose to be open. "To be honest, I still prefer being a vampire. When I used my powers back then, I felt like a superior being—served by all, fearless. But I've noticed you get upset when I'm a vampire, so I won't use those powers again… for your sake."
Jiro felt a surge of joy at her consideration, replying, "Thank you, Vespera, but I'm not angry with you just for being a vampire. I'd only be upset if you hurt someone or damaged things. I just want us all to be safe."
His voice was filled with understanding. Vespera nodded, a hint of pride in her expression as she said, "I promise not to hurt anyone so you won't be mad at me. You're important to me, Jiro—you give me food, a home, and care. I won't defy you on things you forbid."
Her words warmed Jiro's heart, and he smiled as he watched her. As a gesture of gratitude, he took her hand and said, "Thank you for trusting me. I know this is hard for you, but I'm here to help." The gentle touch of Jiro's hand brought a smile to Vespera's face, strengthening their connection in that instant.
The conversation shifted when Vespera asked, "Jiro, why am I a vampire? And why are we together when people fear beings like us?" Her question startled Jiro, leaving him unsure how to respond without revealing the truth—that she hailed from another world and was once an evil queen.
He scrambled for an excuse, saying, "We've been together since we were young, but I don't know how it started. One day, I was just entrusted with you and Lyra, and because I love you both like siblings, I accepted you."
He turned the question back to her, "Aren't you happy with my care?" Vespera responded eagerly, her face lighting up with a smile. "I am, Jiro! Thank you for looking after me and teaching me so much. I get annoyed with Miya's orders, but I know you're there to support me. To me, you're enough to make me embrace being human." Her words filled Jiro with joy, and as a reward, he patted her head, saying, "Thank you, Vespera. I know you'll be a good person—and vampire."
Yet he challenged her further, "Just hypothetically, Vespera, if you discovered a grand life awaited you as a vampire—wealthy, with a big house, and people obeying you—would you choose that over life with me?" Vespera paused, seeking clarification, and Jiro elaborated, "I mean, if you were truly a queen with riches, a mansion, and followers, would you pick that over me?"
Vespera answered with enthusiasm, "I'd love that! If I were rich, I wouldn't have to work, and with my own house, I wouldn't be Miya's servant! I wish I were really a queen to be happy." Jiro scratched his head, his face showing disappointment at her response, but Vespera quickly clarified, "But to me, Jiro is Jiro. I need wealth to survive in this world, but I promise you'd share in the money and luxury if I became a queen. We'd be happier if we were rich, right?"
Jiro grasped her point and nodded with a smile. "Alright, I'll support you however I can. But remember, true wealth lies in the people around you," he said, taking her hand again and giving it a gentle squeeze as a sign of support. This simple act sent a thrill through Vespera, drawing their hearts even closer.
Their discussion deepened as Jiro asked, "Vespera, can you trust me?" His voice was serious yet full of care. "If one day you discover something that angers you, I want to know if you'd believe what I tell you."
Vespera tilted her head in confusion but nodded confidently. "I don't know what you mean, Jiro, but I'm willing to trust you, especially since we remain a family. I dislike Lyra's attitude, but I consider her family too, so you don't need to worry." Her response soothed Jiro's heart, and as a thank-you, he stroked her hair, saying, "Thank you for your trust."
However, Vespera noticed an odd tone in Jiro. "Why do you say such things, Jiro? And why do you always seem so concerned about Lyra?" she asked, a hint of resentment in her voice.
"It feels like you favor her over me!" she added, her eyes pleading for equal treatment. Jiro quickly clarified, "That's not true, Vespera. I treat you both equally—you're both precious to me. Don't think otherwise."
To shift the mood and entertain her, he invited Vespera to the living room for a board game while waiting for Miya. "Come on, let's play chess—I'll teach you," he offered, his smile radiating warmth. In the living room, Jiro became her patient teacher, explaining each move on the chessboard. "Chess is like life—you need to plan and trust your decisions," he said, moving the pieces.
Vespera adapted quickly, her intelligence shining as she mastered the game. In their second match, she defeated Jiro, her face glowing with delight. "I won, Jiro!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side as if awaiting praise.
Unsure why Vespera sat so close, head bowed as if expecting something, Jiro was surprised when she pouted. "I want you to praise me while patting my head, like you do with Lyra!" she complained, her voice carrying a childlike tone.
Amused by her jealousy, Jiro obliged. "You're really talented, Vespera," he said, gently patting her head like a parent encouraging a child. This gesture broadened her smile, deepening their friendship.
"I want you to do everything for me that you do for Lyra. You need to be fair to us, because I trust you to see Lyra and me as equals," Vespera added, her eyes filled with hope.
Jiro nodded, "Okay, no problem—you're both equally dear to me." He took her hand again, giving it a squeeze, "Thank you for trusting me—I'm happy when I'm with you both," he added, forging a stronger connection between them.
Shortly after, Miya and Lyra arrived, catching them mid-game in the living room. Lyra immediately protested, "Why are you playing without me? I want to join!" her eyes flashing with jealousy. Jiro welcomed her, teaching her chess, but was astonished at how quickly she grasped it. "It feels like I've played this before," Lyra remarked confidently as she arranged the pieces. A friendly rivalry ensued over who was the better player, and the game continued with laughter and competition.
While they played, Miya prepared a snack, joking, "The loser has to wash the dishes!" This spurred the two to redouble their efforts to win, eager to avoid the chore. Their chatter and gameplay persisted, brimming with joy and camaraderie.
That night, Miya spoke with Jiro in the living room, her expression grave as if a significant issue loomed. Jiro grew anxious, asking, "Is something wrong, Miya?" Miya began her explanation,
"Our world isn't much different from Earth—it has various governments and alliances driven by politics. The group of heroes, including my father, is called the Cross Guard, and their mission is to bring peace to our world."
She explained that her father's mission succeeded in imprisoning Lyra and Vespera in childlike forms, halting the war between their nations.
"I'm glad to hear that," Jiro said, but Miya added, "But that's just the beginning. Their absence is a small matter in our world—many warlords still rule, so true peace hasn't been achieved. Still, I'm grateful we accomplished this part of the mission."
Miya continued, "My father said there's no sign they're breaking the spell binding them. However, they're intelligent, and in just a few days, they might discover the magic suppressing their powers. I want you to help them understand that the spell is crucial—if they remove it, they might revert to their former selves." Jiro agreed,
"You can count on me, Miya. I'll do everything to ensure Vespera and Lyra don't return to their old ways."
Yet Miya had more to say, "Even with the Cross Guard's support, we can't be certain nothing bad will happen."
Jiro tensed, "What possible dangers are you referring to?"
Miya recounted, "After capturing them, other groups and nations learned of my father's act of sending them to your world. They were furious, and it's not impossible for them to reach here using powerful magic, as my father did. The chance is slim, but I'm cautioning you. If danger strikes, save yourself first. I don't want you harmed, especially since you're involved because of my father."
Jiro swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the impending threat.
"But I won't let you get hurt if an enemy comes," Miya added.
"Thank you, but I hope that danger never comes to pass," Jiro replied.
Speechless, Jiro's heart filled with fear, yet his concern outweighed for Lyra and Vespera's safety. To him, their well-being mattered more than his own.