Chapter 3
Elena's POV
Life hadn't gotten any better since becoming Adrian's exclusive blood servant.
Every morning, Victoria would wake me up from my spot on the floor with the most vicious words, reminding me of my lowly status as a "debt blood servant." The other blood servants followed her lead in humiliating me, tearing my clothes and spitting in my food. I was like a caged rat, living each day in fear and humiliation.
Today was the academy's weekly hierarchy assembly, which all vampires and blood servants were required to attend.
The vampire academy's grand hall was more magnificent than I had imagined. Massive round tables were surrounded by ancient candelabras, their dim light dancing across the pale faces of the vampires.
I nervously followed behind the other blood servants, unsure where to stand.
"Elena." Victoria's haughty voice came from ahead. She was straightening her uniform. "Since you're His Highness's exclusive blood servant, you should sit up front to learn noble etiquette."
She pointed to a seat in the front row, saying arrogantly, "That seat has the best view, perfect for newcomers like you who need to learn the rules."
I hesitated. "Can I really sit? I thought blood servants could only stand..."
"Of course you can." Victoria waved impatiently. "Your status is different now. Stop acting like such a coward."
Why would she help me?
Though suspicious, thinking I could better learn vampire etiquette, I nodded.
"Thank you for telling me this."
Victoria nodded coolly.
Following her directions, I nervously walked toward the front row seat. The surrounding vampires watched me with strange looks, their whispers making me increasingly uneasy.
Why were they all staring at me like that?
I had barely sat down when the hall doors were roughly pushed open. A tall vampire noble strode in with typical aristocratic bearing—pale skin, sharp features, and those chilling silver-gray eyes.
When he saw me sitting in the chair, his expression instantly became terrifying.
"OUTRAGEOUS!" he roared. "A mere debt blood servant dares sit in a vampire noble's exclusive seat! This is contempt for the entire vampire hierarchy!"
What? A vampire noble's exclusive seat?
I instantly understood—Victoria never had good intentions!
"I... I didn't know..." I frantically tried to stand, but my legs went weak with fear.
"Lord Cassius, please calm down!" Other blood servants rushed to intervene.
"Calm down?" Cassius stormed toward me in fury. "An ignorant debt blood servant trampling on thousand-year vampire hierarchy—this is a DEATH sentence!"
He roughly grabbed my arm, dragging me from the seat.
"I'll make this arrogant BITCH pay the price!"
With that, he shoved me hard. I lost my balance, stumbling backward until my head slammed against a stone pillar.
"AHH—!"
Sharp pain hit me, warm blood trickling down my forehead. My vision went black, nearly fainting.
"Please... I really didn't know..." I pleaded weakly.
"Didn't know?" Cassius sneered as he approached. "Then I'll make sure you NEVER forget this lesson!"
Just when I thought I'd die here, a lazy voice suddenly rang out:
"Tsk, bullying a little girl, Cassius? Where's your noble grace?"
I looked up to see a black-haired vampire leaning against a pillar, hands in his pockets, looking completely nonchalant. His features were as refined as a sculpture, but his eyes held an indescribable rebelliousness and casualness.
Those eyes... so familiar...
"Mixed blood?" Cassius looked at him disdainfully. "Your place to speak, you BASTARD?"
"Bastard?" The black-haired vampire raised an eyebrow. "That's a bit much, Cassius."
He pushed past several vampires, slowly walking toward us with a devil-may-care smile.
"What are you supposed to be? Even half-bloods defend humans now?" Cassius demanded angrily.
"What am I supposed to be?" The black-haired vampire chuckled. "At least I don't pick on defenseless little girls."
"You're questioning me?" Cassius was completely enraged. "A mere half-blood dares lecture a pureblood noble?"
The black-haired vampire shrugged. "I just think real nobles should have some class."
The tension between them was explosive, the entire hall's atmosphere instantly becoming tense.
Suddenly, the hall's temperature plummeted.
A powerful and terrifying pressure instantly engulfed everyone. All vampires felt the horrifying oppression from vampire royalty and dropped to their knees.
"Who gave you the courage to touch my blood servant?"
Adrian's voice echoed through the hall, every word carrying killing intent.
He appeared at the hall entrance, his deep blue eyes now completely blood-red, the aura radiating from him making the very air tremble.
"Your Highness!" Cassius immediately knelt. "She violated the hierarchy..."
"Her behavior is for me to judge." Adrian coldly interrupted. "When did I give you permission to touch her?"
Seeing the blood on my forehead, the murderous intent in his eyes intensified.
"Get up." He said coldly to me.
I stood trembling, feeling dizzy.
Adrian walked over to me, expressionlessly examining the wound on my forehead. Though his touch was gentle, his expression remained ice-cold.
"Remember." He turned to address all the vampires, saying coldly, "She is my exclusive property. Next time anyone dares touch her, I'll show them what regret means."
With that, he grabbed my wrist without question. "Come with me."
As I was being led away, I glanced back at the black-haired vampire.
He was watching me, something complex in his eyes.
Who was he? Why did he help me?
Adrian's private study was filled with the scent of ancient texts. Fire danced in the fireplace, but I still felt cold.
"Sit down." He pointed coldly to a chair, retrieving a medical kit from his desk drawer.
I obediently sat, not daring to look at his face.
"Lift your head." He commanded.
I slowly raised my head as he took a cotton swab and began cleaning the wound on my forehead. His movements were gentle, but his expression remained blank.
"It hurts." I said quietly.
"Bear it." He replied impatiently, but his touch became even gentler.
The silence lasted several minutes before I finally spoke:
"Adrian, thank you for protecting me again..."
His movements suddenly stopped.
"Don't flatter yourself." He said coldly. "I just don't want my property damaged by others. Every drop of blood you lose is my loss."
Those words cut through my heart like a knife.
"I understand... sorry for being presumptuous..." I lowered my head, tears welling in my eyes.
How could I think he cared about me specifically? He was right, I was just his property...
Adrian continued treating the wound, but I noticed his breathing becoming rapid.
The blood seeping from my forehead released a sweet, metallic scent into the air.
"DAMN..." He suddenly cursed under his breath, his hands beginning to tremble.
I saw the red in his eyes intensifying, his pupils dilating.
"Adrian?" I looked at him worriedly.
He didn't answer, suddenly dropping the cotton swab and pulling me toward him.
"Your blood..." He panted in my ear, his voice becoming hoarse. "I can't control myself..."
Before I could react, sharp fangs pierced the skin of my neck.
"AHH—!"
This was different from the previous rough marking. His tongue lapped at the wound, releasing satisfied moans. With massive blood loss, I felt my consciousness fading, my body growing colder.
In the last moment before fainting, I dimly heard Adrian's angry cursing:
"DAMN... lost control again... this CURSED blood..."
Then everything went dark.
