When A Ghoul Falls In Love

After Colton Highmore is gone, Duke Sanguine turns toward Amachi. Even though his status is above the healer, he keeps his voice polite. "Take a look at the guests who have experienced the blood thrall."

Amachi heaves a sigh. He wants to leave this place, but he can't. The guests are experiencing the aftereffects of the blood thrall. Even if Amachi is a healer, he has the power to decline him. That's the boon that he asked the king for saving his life. As a healer who is at the scene, he can't decline the Duke's request.

These royal asses only know how to w.h.i.n.e anyway. Amachi goes to Duke Sanguine's youngest daughter. Belinda is too young to go through a blood thrall without experiencing the aftereffects. 

A blood thrall can break someone's mind. Eli had tried to reduce the effect of the blood thrall on everyone while keeping them glued to the spot. Belinda could have received a huge mental blow, but the girl would be fine now. "She is just in shock, Duke Sanguine. I will prescribe calming medicines for her. Still, it's best to keep a watch on her for the next two weeks."

Some symptoms appear after a period. Duke Sanguine gives him a nod. He doesn't want anyone from his family to become a ghoul without any control. A demon without any control on his urges is no better than a devil or a lowly demon who only knows how to fill its stomach. 

Blood thrall. The entire party could have ended in a bloodbath. Duke Balthier Sanguine has faith in Eli. His son would never put his family in danger like that. More so, the human could have died under those circ.u.mstances. But how could that happen? 

That human is a sorceress. But she didn't leave the mansion until today. How could she destroy the prime minister's mansion? Duke Balthier Sanguine massages his forehead. Right! The cat. That cat destroyed the eastern part of his mansion and harmed Voss. 

The Sanguine family can't shake off their responsibility in this matter since the human female is involved. He does owe the human female a little. She stopped Eli from changing his surname. 

But where is Eli? 

***

Eli Sanguine measures Nell's temperature. He pulls open her eyelids to check her pupils. Her vitals are low. Her heart is getting slower with time. He keeps whispering her name, hoping that she would hear him while she's dreaming.

"Nell, Nell," He squeezes and rubs her hands. "You are dreaming, Nell."

"Don't forget me, please."

"I am beside you."

"You aren't alone."

"The worst is already over." He strokes her cheek. "It's not happening for real. Please don't…"

Don't get hurt. 

The feeling of not being able to protect someone he loves… Eli has never felt powerless before. Why does she have to remember? They can live a happy life without those memories. 

"Please wake up without those memories," He begs her. "I know that I am being selfish, Nell. But I don't want you to remember and get hurt. I also want you to forget Baek Joon-Woo. Forget how you loved him."

There's a chance that she might never fall for him after she wakes up with her past memories.

Even Devil said that Baek Joon-Woo was better than he is. He can't compare to that boy. Why does Nell still love him even after so many years? Why did she have to go through that? She doesn't deserve it. Nobody deserves such torment. Nell had never wronged anyone. 

Devil also indicated that the fae was connected to Zachary Krauss. 

He already hates Nell's father.

Eli can't help but think about his past self. Has he ever thought about the repercussions of his actions in the past? 

He had killed without mercy. 

After the war, he couldn't live among the people without thinking about blood and death. Everything felt like a joke to him. He became a part of the Dark Saints and left this world. He kept travelling with the people who wanted more power. People who did anything for more power. He also slaughtered innocent people, uprooted kingdoms, and nearly became an uncontrollable monster.

Because he thought that he was one. The war had changed him. Nobody could remain the same after going to war once. But something had broken inside him back then. It took him a long time to feel something. 

'Let's make a bet.' The man came to him suddenly. 'Kid, if you lose, you will become a doctor for humans. If you win, I will become your food.'

And he lost. 

That man had told him after defeating him, 'Don't punish the world for the injustice that you had to face.'

That day, he cried. He didn't even know that he was hurting for so long. Growing up in a family where he was unwanted, ignored, and neglected. Growing up knowing that he killed his mother. Growing up while hearing that he was similar to heartless creatures like devils. And then, going to the war that broke him completely. 

That's how his journey ended. 

He came to the human world. Luckily, the Council was not aware of his deeds. It took him a while to become accepted in the human world. He truly became a doctor. 

That decision changed his life. He met Nell. Falling in love with her was a miracle. He didn't expect that he would ever feel love for someone. 

He cares about his siblings, but he is not sure about not killing them if they hurt Nell.

What will he do if she doesn't want to be with him anymore? Devil already told him that she didn't want to. But he doesn't know what he will do if she says those words to him. A part of him wants to put her inside a cage and never let her go. Even if she would hate him for that, he wants to tie her to him. He wants to keep her locked inside a world where nothing could ever harm her. Not even herself or the memories of her past. 

But humans are different from dark creatures. He has been living in the human world for a while. Though he is aware of the dark side of the human world, he has also seen things that make that world worth living in.

Doing this to her will suffocate her. She will wither away. 

"How much can I push you?" Eli takes her hand to his cheek. He stares at her pale face. "Will you really throw me away after you wake up?"

He doesn't intend to leave. Even if he has to shamelessly follow her around, he will do that. She might hate him for doing the traditional engagement ceremony. But Eli is not a heavenly saint. He would rather have her tied to him in that manner instead of seeing her with someone else. So, he won't lock her up in some world like a psychopath, but he will do his best to make her fall for him. 

If that happens, he will get plastic surgery. 

Eli ponders for a long time. It seems that she's reliving the time in her memories. How long will it take for her to wake up? Before the end, she will go through 'that'. He must do something before 'that' happens. Can he purge that memory? Why didn't he study memory magic? He doesn't even know how much time he has left?

"Little Marshmallow."

He turns his head toward the door. Devil is here with a man.

The man has the same pale hair that Nell has. Except for the colour of his eyes, Nell has nearly inherited everything from him: skin colour, sharp nose, light skin, slender body, and the shape of his eyes and face. The man looks around thirty. His cloak is light grey, mending with the light in the room. 

This is how he hid his presence in the world. 

"You are the ghoul," The man states solemnly. "Eli Sanguine."

Eli nods. "Zachary Krauss, we have a lot to talk about."

"We do." Zachary Krauss glances at Nell. The colour of his eyes become lighter, almost resembling the moon. He utters slowly, "Fae magic."

It's the same magic that he took from the dark fae king.