Chapter 33- Ashtareth (Part 3)
His question was far from friendly. In fact, Elio was almost certain that this question would get a reaction out of her. He knew he shouldn't be testing the waters with someone like Melissa, but he still wanted to know what she would say. After all, his life was in her hands either way, so he might as well give it a try. If she wanted to kill him, she would've done that long ago and not listened to him.
'What would you say? Would it anger you? Would you be hostile and show your true nature?' Elio asked in his head, staring at the beautiful vampire silently. He was ready for her outburst at any moment.
Yet, shockingly, what she did next completely went against all his expectations.
"Hahaha, kill me?" Melissa started giggling sweetly. Not a single shred of anger could be heard in her laughs. "Do you want me to die, Elio?"
"..."
"If you truly do, then I will give you my life." She said as she smiled warmly. "I wouldn't wish for any other person to kill me."
"Huh?" Elio frowned as he looked at her confusedly. "Why would you want to die?"
"Hm? Oh, I don't mean I want to die, but if my life ever comes to an end, I would want it to be by your hands." She said innocently.
"But, why would you want me to kill you?! That makes no sense!"
'She must be just teasing me.' He clenched his teeth. However, this time too, he didn't feel any lies in her voice. She seemed completely honest.
"Because I like you, sweet boy. You're one of my dearest friends. I know I have lied to you for so long, and I won't force you to like me. But I have truly never wanted to hurt you in my life, and never intend to do so. You have given me so many feelings I never thought were possible. I enjoyed our dinners together, meeting in the morning, and well… your blood." She said.
"..."
"But, I won't force it on you anymore. I will stop. This will be the last time you will ever see me."
"You…"
He saw the flash of emotions in her eyes for a brief second. She looked sad, extremely so. He had never seen Melissa that sad before. She had always been a very joyful and positive woman who never let bad events get to her. She was and still is the strongest person he has met, and she was one of the reasons why he was able to hold on for so long.
"Well, I feel like my presence here is unwelcome, so I will take my leave. Thank you for everything, Elio. I'm truly sorry, and I hope your life ahead is filled with blessings and happiness. You're an amazing boy with immense potential, and as much as I hate to say it, you would make for a very dangerous and very powerful Vampire Hunter."
"Melissa…"
"If we ever come across each other as enemies, don't hesitate to kill me, Elio. It's better for your life that I am dead." She said with a smile as she was about to jump out of the window. "Goodbye…"
"Wait!"
At that moment, involuntarily, the boy yelled, making her stop her movement and look back.
He seemed completely surprised by the fact that he even spoke. In the end, he sighed and rubbed his hair.
"I… I also saw you as a friend. To be honest, I have also lied to you, Melissa…" He said.
"Lied to me? How so?"
"I told you that I have friends at school and that I'm not alone. But the reality is that you are the only person I was talking to. I didn't have any friends from school my entire life. I was always a loner, and I was fine with it. But you were the first person who talked to me and didn't seem disgusted by it."
"I would never be disgusted. Why would I be?"
"That's how it is for me… I never had that sort of warmth before." He said. 'What the hell are you even saying anymore, Elio? You idiot! Why are you speaking!!' He cursed himself.
"But, I don't know if we can really stay friends. As much as I don't want to lose you, I may potentially become a Vampire Hunter, and you being one of them. It will make us enemies sooner or later."
"Wait." Melissa pulled herself back inside and looked at him with a surprised expression. "You don't hate me?"
"Mmm, no, I don't hate you. I feel betrayed, but somehow, it doesn't make me hate you."
"..."
"..."
For a few seconds, neither spoke. One seemed hesitant, while the other was just completely taken aback.
"Elio…"
Then, Melissa whispered.
"Y-Yes?" Elio looked up slowly. However, before he could even react, he saw a shadow loom over him as he was suddenly tackled to the ground.
"Elio!!" Melissa wrapped her body around him in a very tight hug. Her soft body pressed against him in all areas, making him panic.
"Aaah! What are you doing?!"
"Elio… Elio… Elio…" The woman didn't care as she kept hugging him, burying her face into him as if she were the happiest girl in the world. "I truly thought you grew to hate me. I thought you didn't want to see me again… That was so scary."
"..."
"I don't want to leave, Elio. I don't want our friendship to end." She said as she lifted her face a bit, staring at him from up close. "You are closer to me than most Vampires in this world who are my own kin. Your presence in my life has helped me in many more ways than you think."
"..."
"As you said, our friendship is forbidden. But, I don't mind you becoming a Vampire Hunter as long as you would be my friend still. I don't mind you hunting the rogue Vampires as long as our relationship remains the same."
"Melissa… How could you?" He asked. "Those are your people. How are you fine with me being their enemy? How are you fine with me being your enemy?"
"Because you aren't. You never were." She said. "Even if we are meant to be, I want to change that. We could be the first exception to that rule. That Vampires and Humans are enemies eternally."
It simply sounded absurd. Elio didn't even need to give it a thought. This was beyond absurd. A Vampire Hunter becoming friends with the Queen of Vampires?! That sounded like the most badly-written joke this world has ever seen.
Yet, for some reason, Elio didn't feel as much against the idea as he thought he should've. Something within his heart just refused to flatly decline that offer. Perhaps it was because he also liked her, or perhaps he was afraid of being a loner again. Either way, his lips parted open and then closed several times.
He fought for the logic within his head. But it sadly never won.
"Sigh, are you sure about this?"
"Yes! Please let me stay, Elio." She said with a bright smile. "Let's be friends again. Just me and you~"