Chapter 32- Ashtareth (Part 2)
"All these years… You have been the one to suck my blood?" He asked in disbelief as he adjusted his position uncomfortably. Even though Melis- Ashtareth didn't seem hostile toward him at all, Elio still didn't feel at ease standing before a vampire, and not any vampire, the queen of Eternal Sirene, the world where these monsters came from.
"Mmmm, I have tasted the blood of countless things. I have tasted the blood of humans and vampires alike, and nothing comes close to your blood. It is tastier than the finest of wines, and sweeter than the sweetest of fruits."
"Why?"
"It's abnormally rich in Blood Energy. Far more than any other normal human." Ashtareth said. "But, it's not like you don't know that already. It's ok, you don't need to hide the fact that the Vaylor girl had helped you awaken."
"... W-What are you talk-"
"No, no, no lying, sweetheart. Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you or her. I have always known about her, and I figured it was a matter of time before she realized your hidden powers and tried to take advantage of them."
"..."
'She knows Fiona?' He pursed his lips, a bit worried. 'That isn't too surprising considering her status.'
That still didn't make him feel at ease whatsoever. If this woman were truly who she claimed to be, then she was most certainly extremely strong, perhaps even the strongest vampire out there.
Elio felt a cold sensation in his heart. Many bad thoughts filled his mind. Fiona could truly be in danger if this vampire targets her.
"What do you want from me? You have sucked my blood already… What else do you want?" He asked with a fearful look on his face.
That look made Ashtareth's smile fade as a sad expression took its place. "Are you scared of me, Elio?"
"Why wouldn't I be? And more than that, I can't believe the person who did that to me is the only person I thought was my friend. So that was why you were nice to me, because you wanted to drink my blood." He said with a hesitant tone. Even though he was scared, Elio still couldn't stop himself from speaking his thoughts.
He truly felt betrayed and lied to. Melissa was truly his only friend for the longest time. He thought she liked him. He had spent a long time with her, eating from her food and chatting with her, even asking her for advice on life.
Only for her to turn out to be using him for her own benefit. It hurt him greatly that his only friend wasn't even really his friend.
"Elio…"
"What else do you want then?" He asked as he slowly stood up. "You want my blood? You could just take it, and I will never be able to resist. So, just do it. Why the unnecessary conversation?"
"..."
For the first time since their meeting, Ashtareth seemed completely speechless and lost. Her eyes wandered left and right, trying to find any words to say. Her lips pursed subtly before she sighed.
"... I'm sorry, Elio. I have indeed used you and drank your blood for a long time without telling you. I thought that if I played the character of a friendly neighbor, I would be able to easily do it every night."
"Well, that seemed to have worked well for you," Elio said as he clenched his fists.
"But, please believe me, I never simply befriended you for your blood. As you said, I could easily get that without you ever knowing me or meeting me. I have been watching your life for the past few years, Elio, and I have truly grown to like you. I love your determination, your resilience, your ability to accept the harsh reality and fight no matter how hard everything is." Ashtareth said with a sincere and soft tone.
"..."
"I know you are afraid of me, and I won't blame you. I'm a vampire who sucked your blood and caused you nightmares. You probably don't even have a positive view of us, Vampires. That Vaylor girl must've painted the picture for you in a different way."
"So what? Vampires are indeed monsters who suck the blood of humans and kill them." He said with an angry tone. He didn't know where that kind of courage came from for him to say that toward the Queen of these vampires, but he did, and it didn't feel like she was going to kill him for it either.
"Sigh." Ashtareth exhaled a deep breath before she looked at Elio. "You've heard one side of the story. Isn't it right to hear the other one too, Elio? We are not the blood sucking beasts that girl painted us to be. That is far from the reality of things, and she knows that well. She just hides those facts because it wouldn't play well into her and her clan's idealistic view of this world."
"What idealistic view? It is simple. Vampires are threatening us humans, and we are trying to protect ourselves."
"I wish it were as simple as that, Elio. At least you won't find both sides preaching moral superiority over one another. But the story is far more complex than vampires being evil and humans being bad."
"... O-Of course, there would be some sort of bias. I know what you will say, that we vampires are good people and that humans are actually the evil ones."
"No, vampires are bad," Ashatareth said with a cold tone. "There are corrupt and evil Vampires, and there are good vampires. Just like how there are good and corrupt humans."
"..."
"However, this was never the one-sided attack she told you about. That is the story humans created to make themselves feel good about massacring my people. It gives legitimacy to the idea of Vampire Hunters and their heroic cause of saving Earth." She shrugged. "And it also allows for the same things they preach about to happen. Killing us, dismembering and brutally torturing us. We have suffered from humans as much as they have caused us suffering."
Elio, naturally, wanted to flat-out deny those claims. He would rather believe Fiona than Ashtareth. However, for some reason, he couldn't sense any lies in her tone whatsoever. In fact, her voice gave him a different feeling. A feeling of honesty and sincerity.
"And why should I believe that?" He asked after a moment of silence.
"It's true, you don't have to believe what I'm saying. After all, I'm an enemy in your eyes." She said. "You are my friend, Elio. The only human I ever grew to like. You aren't like the rest. I truly like you, and I don't want our friendship to end this way."
"..."
Silence took over the room again as the two stared at each other. It was tense and yet also weirdly peaceful. Elio's fear had dissipated on its own without him realizing. He didn't know how, but he was now seeing her Melissa, the woman he had known for years.
Yet, still, a part of him refused to accept this.
"What if I want to kill you?" He asked. "What would you do?"