The Tyrant's Pet

"I want to cherish you… till the day I die."

Conan looked at Aries, watching her peel her eyes away from him. But he kept his eyes on her side profile, staring at the curl of her lips in silence. When he looked away, a deep exhale escaped his nostrils.

"His Majesty… is the only family I have," he whispered, causing her brows to raise. "That is why I want him to be happy more than you. Don't thank me, because no matter which angle we look at it, I betrayed you one way or another."

"It's in the past now, and many things had already happened."

"I envy you. You have a loving family who will die just to protect you," he continued, ignoring her understanding remark. "The more I get to know Rikhill, the more I tell myself, what's so bad if she experienced hell in the hands of that man? You lived a good life, so two years of pain should be nothing."

Aries frowned but didn't interrupt him. All she could do was stare at him while listening to his confession.

"His Majesty will also kill you, so maybe that's the reward she would be thankful for… was what I thought back then. I don't know you and you don't know me; we're strangers connected because of one man," he continued and chuckled bitterly. "But the more I get to know you, the more I forget that you… were once a stranger. Before I know it, I like you. And that terrifies me."

Conan lowered his eyes to hide the bitterness in them. "You were a human and a dumb one at that. I don't know how to break what we are to you; it scared me witless."

"Thing is, it's not about that you might change. What scared us the most is how you will look at us," he added. "You were a smart lady and you think of the words you say or do before saying or taking action. But your eyes… your blood, your heartbeat, they never lie."

"After all, you shamelessly invaded space in our hearts and claimed it as yours. Living for centuries, you can say life had depleted our hearts to almost nothing. A space that is as tiny as a dot is already a huge part of our hearts… and you took at least two dots or five." Conan laughed dryly. "That is why… I was thankful that you accepted us and sees us the same, and for handling our hearts with care. Not many have such courage and I want to give back."

This time, he mustered the courage to face her. Conan peered at her eyes gently, and like usual, her eyes shone clarity.

"After all, you are a human, and your life is fleeting. There were still many things you will have to learn in this world we dragged you into, and slacking for a minute can cost you your life," he confessed sincerely. "His Majesty is strong and confident with his capabilities, but I cannot be complacent. Not because I don't trust him or my capabilities. It's just that people always find ways to hone their wickedness. Anything can happen, and I don't want to lose either of you."

Aries's lips were drawn into a thin line, unable to look away from the sincerity in his eyes. Her heart knew he meant every word he said, but he unknowingly tugged the strings of her heart and guilt.

"I…" her lips quivered as her eyes shook. "... think I'm dying."

"What?"

"Abel wants to turn me, but I want to find a more natural resolution first. My brother doesn't know yet, but I think I'm sick." After her confession, the following words naturally came out of her mouth and she couldn't stop. "Just yesterday, I nearly fainted after a nosebleed. Sometimes, I will wake up and all my joints were in pain. At first, I thought it was because we had been on the road, but I realized I had been feeling this way even back in the Maganti Empire."

Aries felt like a thorn was plucked out of her throat after breaking the news to him. She smacked her throat as she leaned back; her back fusing against the wall.

"I don't know what to feel about it, honestly." She let out a dry laugh, patting her knees to keep them from shaking. "Of course, you might think it's not that of a big problem, since there is another way to keep me in this world. However, I… can't understand why I feel so reluctant about the idea."

"It's not like becoming a vampire is all that bad. Aside from changing my way of living, I can live for as long as I can. I will be with Abel, with my brother, with everyone. The more I think about it, the more it sounds perfect and convenient. But why do I feel like becoming one… is a decision I will regret?" A short laugh escaped her lips as she looked back at him. "And it terrifies me."

"What do you think?" she asked. "Am I being dramatic?"

Conan pressed his lips while his jaw clenched. "I don't know. I never understood humans and their nature to overcomplicate things."

"Why?" she inquired once more. "What does being a vampire feel like?"

"Hah… I don't know." He shrugged, peeling his eyes away from her.

"Aren't you one? How can you not know?"

Conan went silent for a moment, mulling about a satisfactory answer he could give her. His throat bobbed, taking a deep breath, cocking his head back as he released it through his mouth.

"That child asked me if I hate being a vampire," he spoke under his breath, recalling Sunny's remarks when they first met. "She asked me because I don't use any abilities I had inherited from this blood. But it's not like I hate being a vampire, but I abhor the blood that is running in my veins. I cursed the blood that sustains my life. I don't think being a vampire and a human had that much of a difference. For me, it's the same and only differed from their way of living."

He cocked his head, and his eyes fell on her. "I don't know why you are reluctant to be turned, but I am on His Majesty's side on this one. However, if you truly want to keep living as a human, then I'd help you find a way to cure you." The side of his lips stretched, nodding encouragingly.

"After all, I don't think my promise to help you find a suitable pet ever succeeded."

Aries chuckled while he grinned. "Well, I still need to get checked."

"You won't ask me anything why I don't like the blood running in me?" he asked out of nowhere, knowing she had this habit of being stuck in a particular subject.

"You'll tell me yourself when you want to," Aries looked back at him and winked. "I'll wait for that day."

His lips stretched broader while the luster in her eyes shone beautifully. Both of them chuckled after a minute, setting their eyes back to the wall across from them, and idled in their spot for some time.