I open my eyes slowly, my eyelids heavy as if they've been sealed for centuries.
What... what happened?
How did I end up here?
The moment I try to recall what happened before I blacked out, a sharp pain pierces my head.
My memories are a chaotic blur, and every inch of my body screams in pain.
Yet somehow, I'm alive.
Not just alive—it feels like I've been overloaded with energy, like I could run a hundred laps without stopping.
I finally manage to open my eyes completely, and...
Where the hell am I?
I'm in what looks like a medieval castle room: dark gray stone walls, a massive canopy bed with sheer red curtains, matching sheets, and banners on the walls.
And... wait... I'm completely naked?!
Could this be heaven?
Judging by the unsettling atmosphere, it's more like hell.
What the hell did I do to deserve eternal damnation?
«Finally awake, sleepyhead.»
A sweet, melodic female voice comes from behind the curtains.
The room is dimly lit, bathed in a silver glow seeping through the windows.
With a quick motion, I push the curtain aside and... I see her.
Sitting on an armchair not far from the bed is a completely naked girl, her legs elegantly crossed, holding a goblet filled with a red liquid like wine.
Her long, straight black hair and her eyes glimmer with a sinister crimson light.
«W-W-who are you?!» I stammer, pulling the sheet over me to cover myself.
She sets the goblet down on the armrest and rises gracefully.
The shadows in the room seem to wrap around her, molding into an elegant black dress that clings to her flawless curves.
«Forgive me, I forgot that nudity still causes discomfort in the human world. Your way of thinking is so outdated...» she says, her tone laced with faint resignation.
The human world?
And that trick she just pulled with the shadows to make a dress?
Yeah, she has to be the devil, and this is definitely the lobby to hell.
She approaches the bed and sits beside me. «I am Ayra Volkom, twenty-one years old. I'm the sixth daughter of Viktor Volkom—the sovereign of the kingdom of Mildelar. And I am a vampire.» She says it like it's the most ordinary thing in the world.
«I'm Lyon—»
I stop mid-sentence, only now realizing the weight of her words.
«Wait, WHAT?!»
The princess of a vampire kingdom?
What kind of insane story is this?
«Lyon... Volkom. Yes, it sounds rather nice,» she comments with a satisfied smile.
«My last name isn't Volkom!» I snap, visibly irritated. «And don't you think you owe me some kind of explanation?!»
I try to keep calm, but this whole situation is surreal.
And she's... sexy—sexier than anyone I've ever seen.
No matter how hard I try, my eyes keep falling to her boobs and her thighs.
«Before you died, you said you'd do anything to save yourself, didn't you?» she asks, completely ignoring my discomfort.
«Yeah... I guess I did. Maybe I said something like that,» I reply, as my memories begin to clear.
A woman... with black hair and blood-red eyes, staring at me as I was about to die.
Now that I think about it, she looked exactly like her!
But I was still alive back then... wasn't I?
«And I granted your wish. I saved you from death and brought you here, to N'Raeth—a world in a parallel dimension to the one you come from,» she explains, locking her ruby gaze on me.
«And tell me, why go through all the trouble of saving me? But more importantly... why were we both naked?!»
My voice trembles more and more, a mix of fear and confusion.
«Simply put, the price of your salvation was becoming my familiar—in other words, my servant. To make that possible, I had to perform the Bonding Ritual, which requires both participants to be naked and in close contact for about two hours. That way, my energy could flow into you through the skin. From now on, as my familiar, you'll have two main duties: serving as my source of nourishment when I need blood and—more importantly—fighting for me in the Blood Games.»
I'm left speechless, my mind drowning in everything she just said.
Wait—so she's saying that for two whole hours, her naked, insanely hot body was pressed against mine... and I don't remember a thing?!
Life is so damn unfair!
«Fight for you...? Blood Games...?» I repeat, even more confused, momentarily putting aside my regret.
«The Blood Games are the main form of entertainment for vampire nobles. Each vampire sends their human familiar to fight against the others. That's all. Simple, right? It's not so different from the combat sports of your world.»
«So, in other words... I'm just your plaything?»
«Exactly, I see you catch on quickly,» she replies with an almost sadistic smile.
«Not a chance!» I shout, crossing my arms defiantly.
«You really think you're in a position to disobey your mistress, huh...? Punishment!»
She snaps her fingers and a thin blood-red mist instantly wraps around me, appearing out of nowhere.
In an instant, my whole body is consumed by unbearable pain.
Every cell burns, and agonized screams escape my lips as I roll off the bed, curling into a fetal position on the floor.
I want to swear in every way possible, but my mouth is frozen by the agony.
Damn it... what a shitty situation!
And to think I was afraid I'd ended up in hell... but now I fear I've landed somewhere even worse!
«I hope it's clear now who's in charge, Lyon,» she says, extending her hand in a gesture far too gentle for someone who just tortured me.
Even her sweet, reassuring smile clashes sharply with the cruelty she just showed.
«Let's move. Your match will start soon.»