Crimson Servant

John Kemp woke up from his bed, covering his forehead, the pain of the impact still lingering in his mind. He propped up his upper body and breathed heavily in the cold night, his back wet with cold sweat. The sticky feeling, the pain in my chest, everything was more uncomfortable and more real than in that library.

It was a dream, but I still remember everything I experienced in the dream.

John raised his right hand and looked at the tiny blood threads flowing between his fingers. As his palm turned, the Sin Chain changed its position. The pain in the body subsided quickly, the broken ribs were healing, and there was a muffled sound of thunder and lightning in the body.

"Thank you, Merlin."

John said softly and stood up from the bed.

He was placed next to the campfire, and the other companions were also gathered around the firelight. This is a cave in the lee of the wind. The cave is not too deep and can be seen to the end at a glance.

The movement of John getting up woke up Barnes who was closest to him. The captain opened his eyes and looked relieved after seeing John. Barnes rubbed his eyes and greeted him feebly.

"Feeling better? John."

"I'm completely healed."

"completely?"

"completely."

Barnes' eyes scanned the sorcerer's aura, and he stretched out in the blanket with a smile. The cold wind blew against his exposed wrists. Barnes shivered and retracted into the blanket.

"It's great, if only everyone could recover completely after sleeping like you." Barnes sighed with meaning.

John looked at the others. Raven was resting with his back to the two of them, Arlington was lying on the rock, and Vivian's bedding was empty.

"It's her turn to keep vigil."

The Warlock looked around and did not see the female ranger.

Barnes raised his hand and pointed in one direction, "I saw her going over there, maybe to relax. After traveling across the world, Vivian has changed a lot. You should go and see her."

The captain's urging made the warlock frown.

"I'm sure she can handle it on her own."

"Not everyone can handle their own problems like you, which is why adventurers need companions. She needs you, just like you need us when you are injured." Barnes looked at John and spoke slowly word by word Said slowly.

The magician felt the captain's seriousness and reluctantly agreed.

"Okay, I will."

"Barnes, your former crew members would be shocked in hell if they knew you cared so much about a companion."

Barnes closed his eyes and moved his lips slightly.

"Maybe it's because I've been teaming up with scum for too long, and now I feel like I'll regret it if I don't speak out."

John couldn't understand Barnes's psychology sometimes, but this did not affect his continued actions. Following the direction pointed by Barnes, John left the temporary camp where he rested and went out to look for Vivian.

At this time, it should not have been long since they left the castle, and the moon was still shining brightly in the sky. This is the hilly area outside the woods. There are many exposed rocks on the wasteland. They look like pearls on the earth under the moonlight.

He found Vivian on a large protruding rock. The upper level of this tall stone was smooth and flat, making it much easier to climb up than the sloping roof they first met on. Vivian seemed to be enjoying the height. At this time, she was sitting on the edge of the rock, with her back to John's direction. The evening wind blew her silver hair, and the occasional sparkle seemed to be like stars hidden in it.

John didn't hide his footsteps, he believed Vivian had heard them, even if she didn't react.

The familiar place and time immediately brought John's mind back to the first time they met. He didn't know whether it was due to some kind of body hormone control or other reasons. John subconsciously straightened his side, like a soldier waiting for review.

"Want a dance?"

"No." Her refusal was so soft that John could hardly hear it.

The warlock stopped where he was. He stared at Vivian's back and noticed that the female ranger's body was trembling slightly.

Why, because of the temperature? The weather at night was indeed a bit cold, but John couldn't feel it with his current body. He thought of the care and consideration that Nora had taught him, and the reserve and elegance that Mariana had taught him. The warlock hesitated for a moment.

"If you need any help, I can help you."

"Help me?" Vivian's voice seemed to contain anger, and the stress was almost squeezed out of the female ranger's throat. John noticed that her body was shaking more.

John Camp had never encountered a woman who looked so fragile in front of him. Both Nora and Mariana would appear strong and generous in front of him. As for the others, John didn't care about the others. He was sure that there was an impulse in his heart. It was the gentlemanly etiquette he had learned that was forcing him to sympathize and care for the lady in front of him.

"Yes." John took another step towards her.

"Stop!" Vivian shouted. She turned her head, letting John see a side face with gnashing teeth. "I'm warning you one last time, John Kemp. You have two choices now, one is to get away; and The second is to continue your actions and completely destroy the partnership between us. Believe me, this will not be good for you!"

The warlock looked at Vivian's livid complexion. Her body was frozen, as if she was undergoing some kind of transformation.

"But if I continue to get closer, it will be good for you." The magician said firmly.

John moved on, mentioning Barnes casually.

"Someone said he would regret it if I didn't come to you tonight."

"He's right."

Vivian Odiz turned into a black shadow and rushed towards John. She burst out with extreme speed that she had never shown before, and rushed in front of John in an instant. Her hair was flying in the air, her blood-red eyes were full of hunger, and she had fangs in her mouth.

The huge force pushed the warlock to the ground, and the next moment, his neck was bitten. After the sting, there was a cold feeling of blood draining from the body, and a deadly aroma poured into the nose along with the smell of blood. Vivian lay on top of John, grabbed his hands, and sucked greedily.

The passage of life was accompanied by a terrible feeling of weakness. John could feel his blood entering Vivian's body, giving her new vitality and warmth.

Vivian Odiz is a vampire.

The teeth left his veins, and John felt the wetness of a tongue licking the skin, and a kiss.

Vivian put her hands on the warlock's chest, pushed herself up, touched his face, and asked him to look at her.

The moonlight above her head covered her with a veil, and she smiled, but there was no trace of joy in her eyes. It was a twisted smile.

"You should regret it, but it's too late."

"Now, you will always be with me, Blood Servant."