CA - Chapter 149
Chapter 149
After telling Tang Qiu she was returning to Witch City, Erin left the Gosse Empire with Vera the next day.
Although Erin trusted that Vera wouldn't harm her, she arranged with Tang Qiu to report her safety via Mark's Grocery Store every time she passed through a country, just to be safe.
While the Black Witches' speed traveling via skeletons couldn't match that of the Vampires, it was still much faster than a human carriage. They just had to travel through the wilderness, far from populated areas.
Vera's dark magic and summoning skills were far superior to Erin's, and the skeletons she summoned were a full size larger than Erin's.
Erin lay comfortably in the arms of a skeleton Vera had summoned, squinting her eyes to enjoy the mild sunlight. Little Fur Ball was curled up in a ball on her chest, fast asleep.
While directing the skeletons, Vera turned her head to observe Erin, her gaze focused mainly on Little Fur Ball lying on her chest.
But after a moment, her eyes involuntarily shifted to Erin's face. Though the sun wasn't intense, Erin's face was slightly flushed from the exposure.
She frowned slightly and summoned another skeleton to walk beside Erin, holding a paper umbrella to shield her from the sun.
The sunlight suddenly vanished. Erin opened one eye to look, and the corner of her eye crinkled as her lips couldn't help but curve into a smile. "When we get to the Shas Principality, I'll wait for you in Skont City."
Skont City was within the Shas Principality, about a few hundred miles from Witch City.
Vera nodded and said softly, "Alright."
Erin reached out, tugged on Vera's sleeve, and asked with a serious expression, "Will you deceive me?"
Vera met her gaze for a moment and shook her head slightly. "I won't hurt you."
"I knew it." Erin pulled her hand back and closed her eyes again, but the smile in her voice revealed her excellent mood. "If even you were to deceive me, I wouldn't know what meaning there is for me to exist in this world as a witch."
She had been born into this world as a witch, with no right to choose from the very beginning. Glanna had twisted her thoughts, trying to control her and turn her into an obedient "daughter."
The reason she hadn't been completely brainwashed during her time in Witch City was because she had Vera as a friend.
Vera was a ray of light in the darkest period of her life. Back then, she was unwelcome in Witch City, isolated, helpless, and often bullied. She was too young to have the strength to fight back, and even more unfortunately, Glanna was the only person she could rely on at the time.
But thankfully, she met Vera by chance.
Vera was around the same age, but her personality and strength were far greater. Vera drove away the Black Witches who bullied her and, when Glanna was away, took her to live in the Garcia Family's territory.
If it hadn't been for Vera, her reliance on Glanna, born from the constant bullying of her youth, would have certainly deepened. Her personality would have been molded according to Glanna's wishes, and she might never have had the chance to leave Witch City.
It was because of Vera that she was later able to calmly accept her identity as a witch.
Otherwise, she would have surely broken down, just as Glanna had hoped.
Vera gazed at Erin's profile, saying nothing.
Erin recalled the past, her brow furrowing unconsciously. The memories of her youth were too dark, so she could only try to remember the relatively warmer moments. "...Right, how is Laurel?"
Laurel was Vera's friend. The three of them had grown up together, studying dark magic. In truth, Erin's relationship with her was rather ordinary.
But last time in the Bill Empire, she had let Laurel go, which indirectly led to Glanna finding her.
Vera withdrew her gaze and said flatly, "Her face was burned. Elder Noah has locked her up in Witch City. She's trying to find a way to get a new face."
Erin snorted and muttered under her breath, "And I'm the one who saved her life."
"But she hates you."
"...I knew it." Erin pouted and said indignantly, "That ungrateful woman."
Seeing her exasperated look, Vera's lips curved slightly. She said softly, "Don't worry, I won't let her bully you."
Erin glanced at her and smiled.
The two chatted about trivial matters, both tacitly avoiding the topics of the Dark God and the Dark Formation. The atmosphere became relaxed and comfortable, and they both found themselves sinking into it.
It wasn't just Erin and Vera who had left Lucille's manor; Delia, who had been locked in the warehouse, had also vanished.
Lucille found Tang Qiu resting with her eyes closed on a bench by the lake behind the manor and asked softly, "Did you let Delia go?"
The back mountain was Lucille's private territory. She had even set up a barrier around it that only she and Tang Qiu could enter. The environment here was beautiful and serene, perfect for solitude.
Every one of Lucille's manors had such a place. Before, only she could enter, but now, a certain blonde bishop had to be added to the list.
Tang Qiu didn't open her eyes or answer. Instead, she crooked a finger at Lucille.
Lucille watched her for a moment, her eyes darkening slightly. She walked over, cupped the back of Tang Qiu's neck, and leaned in to kiss her lips.
Tang Qiu's lips were moist and soft, as comfortable as the humid air around them.
The sudden mingling of their breaths made Tang Qiu's lips curve into a slight smile. She raised a hand to grab Lucille's arm, pulling her onto her lap. She leaned back a little, pressing her forehead against Lucille's, and said with a smile, "Delia convinced me. I also think she might be of some use alive."
Lucille's hand rested on Tang Qiu's waist as she knelt on one knee on the bench, looking down at her. Her dark red eyes seemed deep with her back to the light. She gently kneaded Tang Qiu's side, asking distractedly, "What use?"
Every breath was filled with Tang Qiu's scent, so familiar that she couldn't help but lick her lips.
"For example, drawing out Evan's companions?" Tang Qiu noticed Lucille's distraction. She chuckled softly and suddenly pushed her off.
Lucille froze for a second, looking at her in confusion.
Tang Qiu sat up straight. She slowly rolled up her sleeve to her elbow, revealing a fair arm with faint veins and a reddish bite mark.
It was left from Lucille's previous feeding.
Lucille stared at the bite mark and swallowed. She reached for Tang Qiu's wrist but was pushed away again.
The nails on her left hand suddenly sharpened. Tang Qiu lightly slit her wrist, and blood immediately welled up.
Watching the blood emerge, a crimson tide surged in Lucille's eyes. She knelt on one knee, lifted Tang Qiu's arm, and bit down on the wound she had made.
An uncontrollable urgency.
A beautiful curve formed on Tang Qiu's lips. She placed her other hand on Lucille's head, forcing her to look up, and gazed down at her entranced expression.
She loved seeing Lucille's desperate craving for her.
When they first met, Tang Qiu had only treated this craving as a bargaining chip. But now... she found it had become a kind of intimacy that could set her own desires ablaze.
She licked her lips and signaled for Lucille to stop. Lucille paused, released her, and looked up with a confused expression.
"I've noticed you've had a lot on your mind lately." Tang Qiu leaned in, hooked Lucille's chin to make her meet her eyes, and said softly, "What did you and Beverly talk about?"
Beverly had already found her brother, yet she lingered at the manor, seemingly waiting for something.
"If you don't answer properly, today's feeding ends here."
Lucille licked the blood from the corner of her mouth. She turned her head and kissed Tang Qiu's wrist until some of the obsession in her eyes faded, then said in a hoarse voice, "I'm considering returning to the Blood Domain."
"Oh?"
"Beverly said there's a faction within the Gangrel clan that I could try to bring under my control."
A bead of blood welled up on the wrist wound. Lucille licked it away, her desire now fully aroused. She pulled Tang Qiu down onto the soft grass, tore open her collar with one hand, and bit into the side of her neck.
Blood gushed out and was sucked away, swallowed. Lucille's breathing grew gradually more ragged.
The pain made Tang Qiu frown slightly. She shifted into a more comfortable position beneath Lucille, her gaze lowered, her thoughts still lingering on what Lucille had just said.
She wasn't against her returning to the Blood Domain; she was just a little worried about Lucille's safety.
However, opportunity always comes with risk, and Tang Qiu believed Lucille had the strength to handle it.
After telling Tang Qiu she wanted to return to the Blood Domain, Lucille no longer hesitated and made up her mind completely. Because she had made this decision, and thinking about being separated from Tang Qiu for a while, she deliberately prolonged this feeding for a long time.
Tang Qiu was aware of her little scheme but didn't call her out on it, indulging her as much as she could bear.
The price was drinking Holy Water of Light for three straight days to replenish her strength and spirit.
Although the seal within her body had been broken, excessive blood loss was still a not-insignificant problem for a werewolf.
When they left the back mountain, Lucille's appetite was thoroughly satisfied. In order to leave and return as soon as possible, she took the initiative to set a date with Beverly for their trip to the Blood Domain.
Lucille also took Lola with her to the Blood Domain, leaving only Tang Qiu and Kama at the manor.
Although the atmosphere grew quiet, Tang Qiu quickly adapted. Karen would occasionally visit the manor to deliver news from the Central Church. The Holy Son and the Holy Daughter were still training in Eden and had not emerged. The conflict between Audrey and Cambecus was deepening, but under the Pope's suppression, neither side had managed to inflict any real damage on the other.
The situation in the Holy See was much calmer than Tang Qiu had imagined, and the continent was even more peaceful. For the time being, she had no opportunity to return to the Holy See.
Being stuck at the manor waiting for an opportunity was starting to bore Tang Qiu. She sat on a garden bench, rubbing the fading bite mark on her wrist while watching Kama dart about the garden.
Kama had been very happy these past few days. With everyone else gone, she and Tang Qiu were alone. She flitted through the garden, picked the flower she thought was the prettiest, and ran to Tang Qiu's side, holding it out to her.
Tang Qiu took the flower, lowered her head to smell it, and said casually, "Kama, do you want to go out and play?"
Kama's hands hung obediently at her sides as she gave Tang Qiu a small nod.
Tang Qiu placed the flower on the table, took a light green scroll from her Space Gem, and said with a grin, "Then let's go visit the Elves' territory."
Delphine had given her this scroll when she invited her to the Elven lands before she left. Since she was relatively free now, she might as well accept the invitation.
Delphine had looked rather grave before her departure, and Tang Qiu was also a little curious about the current situation of the Elf Race.
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