The Vampire's Bride

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

Seeing that no one was injured, the principal relaxed. "What happened?"

"Aldo broke through the window. He visited Mallory."

The principal turned to Mallory, "Did he say anything?"

"N-No. Just that he did drank some blood... again."

The principal was surprised, "You asked him?"

"Y-Yes..."

"What else did he say?"

"H-He said that... his mind was hazy when he wasn't near me..."

Leo nodded, "Probably because he remembers you."

The principal understood what he meant and said, "Leo, I need a report about this. I won't tell them since Mallory's involved but be sure to keep it a secret."

"Yes, sir."

"Then you guys may go."

"Yes, sir."

...

Leo was walking down the hallway with his hands at the back of his head when he noticed Mallory behind him with her head down. "What's wrong?"

Mallory looked at him reluctantly. She stopped walking and so did Leo. She fiddled with her fingers before mumbling, "I think I have an idea of what is happening..."

Leo was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"About Aldo's behavior and his killings."

Aldo's behavior?

Leo subconsciously placed his arms down and asked, "What is it?"

Mallory looked around before going near Leo. She cautiously whispered, "Is it safe to say it here?"

Leo knew what she meant and quickly brought her to the rooftop. "You can tell me here. I've put a sound barrier. It's up for quite some time, so no worries."

"Y-Yes. Thank you."

Leo leaned on the railings as he waited for her to speak. "What's your idea?"

"W-Well... A-Aldo said that his mind was hazy... right?"

"Yeah. He said that when he's with you, he has a clear mind."

"At first, I also believed that it was because he could recognize me but..."

"But?"

Mallory lowered her voice as she hesitantly spoke, "But I think that's not the case."

"What do you mean?"

"M-Master Orpheus, you know that I'm a halfling, right?"

"Yeah."

Poof—

Suddenly, Mallory's ears showed up. Leo's eyes widened. "Your ears!"

Mallory shyly touched them and said, "Y-Yes... I had a feeling it would pop out soon but I expected it to pop out last night."

"We're in school, right now... how can you hide it?"

Mallory suddenly gave a small smile, "Hehe... I'll probably skip classes..."

Leo glanced at her skirt. Will she have a tail?

Mallory was confused as of what Leo was thinking when she realized that they were getting off-topic. "Wait! That's not what I wanted to say!"

"Ah, yeah... what does you being a halfling got to do with Aldo?" Leo asked.

"I don't know how or why but last night, I heard a voice."

"A voice?"

Mallory nodded. "I think Aldo is being controlled."

"Why?"

"When Aldo was hugging me, somehow, I heard the voice saying four words."

"Go... Kill... Drink blood."

Go kill and drink blood?

"An order?" Leo mumbled.

"I believe so. Then when I looked at Aldo, his eyes seemed to flashed."

"His blood l.u.s.t was activated?" Flashing a bright red means that it was due to mind control. Flashing a dark red, like blood, means that it was due to blood l.u.s.t.

Mallory shook her head, "No, Master Orpheus. It flashed a shade of yellow."

"Yellow?" Leo was confused. Why yellow?

"Master Orpheus... I think that's because Aldo's eyes... they used to be yellow."

Thinking back, Leo did used to see Aldo with yellow eyes but recently, all he saw was either red, due to his blood l.u.s.t, and black, which was what he saw last night.

"You're right... Aldo did have yellow eyes."

"T-That's why... I think that..." Mallory stopped. She couldn't find the right words to say it. How could she say it in a way that it would be easier for him to understand?

Noticing that she stopped, Leo tried putting the puzzles together.

Mallory exclaimed, "U-Umm... I think that Aldo is alive."

"...He is alive. He's kicking well and hunting preys," Leo said as a matter-of-fact.

Fl.u.s.tered, Mallory tried to explain, "N-No! I mean he is alive but he's not! I-I mean!... Um... He- -"

Suddenly, Leo laughed, "Don't worry! I got what you're trying to say."

Patting her head, he continued, "You think that Aldo's being controlled and he's fighting it, right?"

"Y-Yes..."

Leo smiled, "Well, it's a possibility so we can't disregard it."

Mallory was dumbfounded. "M-Master Orpheus, is it safe that you believe in my conclusion?"

"Well," Leo started thinking, "I was also thinking that there was something wrong with that arrogant vampire. So when you told me about this, it actually fits so it's not like I can disregard it."

Hooking his arm over her shoulder, he exclaimed, "Don't worry! You're doing great!"

"Y-Yes... thank you?"

"Ah, by the way, Mallory." Leo removed his arm and looked at her.

"Yes?"

"I'll give you an offer."

Mallory tilted her head. Offer?

Leo's smile disappeared as he turned serious, "Join the Night Class."

Sighing, Mallory said, "Master Orpheus, I won't. I already—"

"Now, now. Don't be so quick to reject the offer. Let me finish." Leo intervened.

Mallory looked at Leo confusedly as he had a triumphant look on his face. Mallory's eyes widened as he continued speaking. In the end, she was perplexed.

"Let me think about it... please."

"Sure, sure! Ah! But you should give me an answer before next week is over. Remember, I told the principal that I'd get you to join the class by next week," Leo reminded.

"Y-Yes. I'll do my best to think about the offer," Mallory said. She paused for a while before confirming, "Master Orpheus, are you sure that I could..."

"Yeah. Leave it to me."

Leo hooked his arm around her shoulder once more and said, "Now that that's finished, let me touch your ears! It's been a long time since I've seen them!"

Mallory tried refusing when he had already started fondling them. "W-Wait, Ma-Master Orpheus!"

"I won't." Leo gently placed a kiss on one of them before nibbling the tip. Mallory held back her voice. Seeing this, Leo fondled it more, "You really are s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e."

"P-Please stop it, Master Orpheus."

"Why? You seem to like it?"

"Because..." it's because it feels good that it's scary. "Eek!"

Suddenly, Leo licked the tip and smirked. "Eek?"

"M-Master Orpheus!"

Seeing the slightly angry Mallory, Leo chuckled. "By the way, Mallory."

"Y-Yes?"

"Can I drink?"

Frightened, Mallory quickly pushed Leo as she asked, "F-From my ears?!"

"No! That would hurt a lot! You're too s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e at your ears!" Leo said. Hearing that, Mallory visibly relaxed. "So can I?"

She averted her eyes and mumbled, "I think Master Orpheus will do what he wants even if I do not agree."

Leo laughed. "Bingo. Just want to give you a warning."

And with that, Leo gently tilted her head and bit on the slightly visible collarbone.

Sensing the familiar sensation, Mallory could not help but shudder. She bit her lip to prevent any sound from coming out.

Leo glanced at her, thinking, How cute. Even her ears are shivering.

"It's fine to make a few noise. It's not like it's your first time."

Feeling embarrassed, Mallory closed her eyes, "Still!"

Leo hummed before biting once more.

Who knows how long they stayed there on the rooftop. They did not even noticed someone spying on them.

...

Meanwhile...

A certain butler was already waiting at the entrance door when a black car arrived. "Welcome back, Master."

Someone suddenly arrived at Leo's house without any warnings. He was not a guest or a complete outsider.

When the staffs saw who it was, they formed two lines and greeted the man.

The man grunted and hurriedly to his office room. Passing by Leo's room, he stopped. He did not dare to check inside the room. Just a small lingering scent was all it took.

He quickly called the butler, "Brian!"

"Yes, Master?"

"Tell me, did he bring in another vampire?"

"...Yes, Master." Brian knew it was best not to lie.

The man's face scrunched in anger. "That bastard...!"

Leo did not know what was waiting for him in his house. He was still enjoying teasing Mallory throughout the day.

It was clear that he, Leo, was not ready nor did he want to meet the man.