The Eclipsed Bloom
Chapter 106: Complete control

Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Complete control

"Do you know," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath, "I was once a high-class vampire."

I saw confusion flicker in her eyes—deep, entrancing eyes that seemed to draw in light and thoughts alike.

Still cradling her in my arms, I leaned closer.

She didn’t resist. Her lashes fluttered down, and her eyes slowly closed—trusting me, or perhaps too dazed to fear me.

My lips brushed against the delicate shell of her eye, a kiss both gentle and claiming.

"Once... I was a noble," I said softly, my fingers gently brushing her hair. "Feared by all vampires because of my strength."

I leaned back slightly, resting my head against her shoulder as the memories clawed their way back into my mind—bitter, heavy, unforgotten.

"Even the former king, Maverick Nightmoor—the father of the current king—feared me."

My eyes closed, the bitterness thick in my throat.

"Do you know why I told you to never soften your heart?" I asked, my voice low. "Because once... I did. I let my heart waver to save someone dear to me—a knight who served me loyally. I risked everything for him..."

I paused, the weight of that decision pressing down.

"In the process... I was gravely injured. Vulnerable."

My voice hardened.

"And the moment they saw weakness, the former king... and even my own blood—my biological family—and that knight, they turned on me. Tried to kill me while I lay wounded."

"In that betrayal... they wounded me heavily," I whispered, my voice barely audible now. "They ripped out my blood core, the core who make vampire’s stronger with time. Without it, I became something else... the first ever dhampir."

I stared into the dimness, my thoughts distant.

"I begged them to give it back—to let me return to what I was. But they refused. They never wanted me to be a full vampire again... only a broken thing beneath them."

Suddenly, I felt something.

A hand—her hand—gently patting my head.

My eyes snapped open in disbelief.

She was looking at me—not with fear, not with disgust—but with... sympathy.

Genuine, tender sympathy.

Why...?

Why would she show me that look?

She’s under my control. That’s the only reason anyone ever looks at me softly. It has to be...

It has to be because of my beauty—because of the spell.

I looked down, feeling the warmth of her soft hand against my head.

For a brief moment... everything blurred.

Tears slipped from my eyes before I could stop them.

No.

I quickly wiped them away, swallowing the lump in my throat.

I will not trust anyone again. I will not soften my heart.

But then—my breath hitched.

My eyes widened as I felt it.

Her thoughts. Her feelings.

She was wide open to me now.

Hahaha... yes.

She’s completely mine.

No spell has ever sunk this deep, not like this. No bond has ever felt this alive.

She is mine now.

The only one who can ever truly belong to me. No one can take her away now.

But... her emotions. They flooded into me.

Sadness.

Sympathy.

My fingers twitched, curling into tight fists.

Why...? Why was she feeling that?

Is it because of the spell?

Or is it... real?

If it’s real—if even a fragment of that feeling is real—

Then I’ll never let her go.

Everyone before her... pawns. Weapons. Tools to destroy the vampires from within.

But her?

She’s not a pawn.

She will be mine.

Truly, completely and eternally mine hehe.

Zara’s POV:

Hearing her story... I couldn’t stop myself.

The sadness in her voice, the pain in her words—it clung to me like a weight I couldn’t shake off.

I found my hand moving on its own, gently patting her head, offering comfort without even thinking.

Even if her story is true... even if her suffering is real... it doesn’t make torturing people right.

Somewhere, deep inside me, a small part knew that.

But I ignored it.

Right now, it just felt like she was mine. Like I loved her more than anything else. Like nothing else mattered.

Her pain became my pain. Her sorrow became my sorrow.

I cupped her chin with trembling fingers and leaned down, drawn to her as if by gravity itself.

Our lips met.

Her taste...

Strangely sweet. Addictively delicious. Almost unnatural.

When I pulled back, I found myself breathless. My heart pounded wildly, not with confusion, not with hesitation—just pure, consuming desire.

Why... why do I love her so much?

As our lips parted, her black eyes locked onto mine—burning with obsession so intense it made my breath hitch.

She cupped my face gently, her voice a low, honeyed whisper.

"Love... let’s go. Now it’s your turn."

Her fingers tightened around mine as she smiled sweetly.

"Will you make one for me? It’s for a good cause. Vampires are the real evil, not us. Help me."

I nodded slowly, her words echoing in my mind like a mantra.

We stood, brushing moss from our clothes. She held my hand—softly, lovingly—as we walked out of the cage together.

She led me to the one right beside it, rusted iron bars creaking as she pushed the door open. The only sounds inside were the groans of a half-conscious man chained to the wall.

"Go on, dear," she urged softly. "Make one for me. Don’t feel guilty... they’ve all killed before. Even their own people wanted them executed. I’m just doing what others are too afraid to."

I nodded again, not even pausing to question it.

I stepped inside.

The air was heavy, thick with damp rot and the copper scent of blood.

I stood before the man. His skin was bruised, his breathing shallow.

My heart pounded as I felt something shifting inside me—something dark, hungry.

My fangs extended, and I bent down.

The moment my teeth sank into his neck... a rush surged through me. His blood filled my mouth, warm and metallic.

His body convulsed as his skin turned black, red lines pulsing beneath the surface. As I pulled back, Anahi stepped closer and whispered in that strange, otherworldly language again.

The man growled low and mindlessly stumbled out, vanishing beyond the cave.

I wiped my lips.

But instead of satisfaction... there was nothing.

No pleasure, No fullness.

Not even a sliver of relief.

The thirst inside me still roared, gnawing at my insides like a beast unchained.

A pit formed in my stomach.

’Why... why didn’t it satisfy me?’

I looked down at my bloodstained hands, heart beginning to tremble.

And yet... when I turned back to Anahi, her smile made the doubt shrink, pushed it somewhere deeper.

She opened her arms.

"You did beautifully, my love"

And I stepped into them without hesitation.

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Third person POW:

"BAM!"The door slammed against the wall.

"What do you mean the Marquis is missing?" Theodore’s voice thundered through the command tent.

The knight standing before him flinched but held his posture, hands clasped tightly behind his back. Sweat lined his brow as Theodore stormed closer, fury etched into every step.

"I sent you all to search for her!" Theodore growled. "And after an entire day, you return with nothing?"

The knight lowered his head, eyes on the ground.

"Sir... the Marquis has been missing for a full day. We’ve scouted the battlefield, the cliffs, and the ravines. There’s no trace of her. It’s possible she was ambushed or... or she fled—"

"Watch your tongue!" Theodore snapped, stepping forward, his voice like ice. "Say that again and I’ll cut it from your mouth myself."

The knight went rigid, shame and fear flashing in his eyes.

"She fought harder than anyone here," Theodore said coldly. "For days, without rest. She bled beside us. She held the line when others ran. She is not someone who flees."

The knight said nothing, unable to meet his superior’s glare.

After a tense moment, Theodore turned away, jaw clenched. He walked to his chair and slumped into it heavily, rubbing a hand down his face before pressing his fingers to his temples.

He exhaled a slow, frustrated breath.

"Send a message to the castle," he muttered finally. "Report that the Crimson Marquis is missing."

The knight saluted stiffly and hurried out of the tent.

Left alone, Theodore sat in silence. He stared up at the canvas ceiling of the tent, the flickering light of the lantern casting long shadows across his worn face.

His chest rose and fell with a tired sigh.

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Progenitor Castle – Master Chambers

In the dim warmth of the royal chamber, Lucien lay on the bed, his arm gently wrapped around Seris.

His fingers threaded through her soft silver hair, stroking it absently. The flicker of the candlelight danced across the walls, casting long shadows.

Seris shifted slightly and looked up at him.

"Lucien... I’ve kept quiet all these days because I didn’t want to hurt our daughters’ feelings," she said softly.

"But they’ve been asking me—every day. What do I tell them? Why did you stop them from joining the battle?"

Lucien’s black eyes opened slowly. He sighed, a deep and weary sound.

"Seris... you know I’m not doing this out of cruelty," he murmured. "I don’t want them to lose every memory. I’m sure that dhampir—Anahi—will target them eventually. She always goes after those with my blood."

Seris watched his face, her expression calm but concerned.

"But didn’t our daughters fight on the frontlines before?" she asked.

Lucien rubbed a hand through his own hair, eyes closing again for a moment as if trying to banish painful memories.

"Yes," he admitted. "But I only allowed it back then because that creature was busy—away, capturing humans elsewhere. I would never have let them near the battlefield if she were present."

Seris lowered her eyes.

"Husband... if something happens to Zara, you know they will never forgive you."

Lucien flinched slightly at her words.