“DO you believe in vampires?”
It was an abrupt question containing the surreal term, vampire. For a moment, she contemplated if he was joking, but apparently he wasn’t. Subaru’s eyes were dead serious.
He continued speaking with all seriousness, “You might not believe me, but we are vampires.”
“…Excuse me?” She couldn’t help but ask back. She thought she may have misheard him, but what word could she possibly confuse for vampire?
What’s wrong with this guy? Is he mentally ill?
She frowned. Seeing her reaction, Subaru smiled sadly. “Yup, that’s the typical reaction. I knew it was coming... But it’s the truth. Ichi is one too, as well as all the servants hired to serve here. While I’m at it, you can pretty much say almost everyone in this city is of the species known as vampires.”
“…By vampires, you mean the creatures that drink blood? The same ones that can’t handle garlic and turn to ash under the sun?”
“That’s the one. We’re also known as bloodsuckers or Nosferatu.”
“Hah…but…”
Azusa glanced outside the window. It was sunny out. Unobstructed sunlight streamed in through the window, yet the man claiming to be a vampire was doing just fine.
“We have different concepts of common sense from humans, but the majority of vampires can live the same lifestyles as you do. We can be active under the sun and even eat garlic. Well, I guess you can say we’re nocturnal when it comes down to it. Our bodies are lighter and our powers are stronger at night,” Subaru added, noticing the furrow in Azusa’s brow.
“I’m sorry. I don’t believe you,” Azusa flatly declared. “Your explanation isn’t substantive with the available evidence. You suddenly claimed that my dad is a kidnapper with the added nonsense he created me. You didn’t even explain why Miss Ichi is guarding me. Anyway, what on Earth do I need a bodyguard for? Is someone after me? And then, to top off all the insanity, you further declare you are all vampires! Just what part of this ridiculousness am I supposed to believe? I am grateful you rescued me, but my gratitude doesn’t mean I’ll automatically believe anything you say,” Azusa rattled on and glared at him.
Subaru was taken by surprise for a moment, before cracking a smile. “I lost that round. Really can’t judge a book by its cover, huh? You didn’t look like the strong-willed type.”
“My friends often tell me that. They say I could get by seeming like a docile girl if I keep my mouth shut.”
Subaru burst out laughing. “I agree completely! Yup, that’s so true! Aah, don’t get me wrong. It’s not that you look docile—ah, but, you do look it. I guess it was wrong of me to expect you to unconditionally believe everything I’ve said without proof.”
“…What are you going to do then?”
“Guess I’ll show you some proof. You good with that, Ichi?”
“Yes.” At his comment, Ichi undid the hook on her shirt collar and stepped forward.
“Go ahead,” she said, boldly exposing her neck. Subaru bit down on the exposed vein.
Bloodsucking was nothing like the elegant and alluring scenes portrayed in saucy romance novels across the world. It was not unlike the cruel, but necessary acts of survival a predator undertakes while eating its prey. It felt similar to the time she watched a snake swallow a mouse whole.
“…!” She couldn’t help but gasp at the scene before her. Graphic was the best word suited for the slurping and gurgling sounds she heard coming from Subaru’s throat. It couldn’t have lasted for more than ten seconds, but the shocking nature of what she witnessed made it feel longer.
“Thank you, Ichi.”
“No need for thanks, as long as you do the same for me next time.”
“Of course.” Subaru lift his face from Ichi’s neck, wiping the blood from his lips. Azusa sucked in her breath when he slowly turned toward her. At a glimpse, nothing had changed. However, both of his eyes glowed now.
“…Red.”
“My eyes? Yeah, they are, because I drank blood,” he answered and deliberately stood in front of the dresser.
“Can you see me?”
“What?”
Subaru waved at the mirror attached to the dresser. He didn’t show up in the mirror’s reflection.
“Have you ever heard about how vampires don’t show up in mirrors? Well, we’ll show up normally if we haven’t just had blood... Also,” he gently touched the mirror with his index finger—the mirror instantly cracked, webbing from where his finger touched, “we’re stronger in this state too.”
“Wow...”
Azusa recalled how he saved her by shattering the wooden container she was in with his bare hands, even though it didn’t dent after all her kicking. She didn’t have her wits about her to realize it at the time, but that was undeniably an inhuman feat.
“Do you believe me now?”
“……” Unable to honestly say yes, Azusa kept silent. Her father placed his large hand on her head.
“Everything he said is true. They are vampires. I’m human, but I once assisted in a research project at their laboratory.”
“Dad…” After some hesitance, Azusa turned to Subaru and reluctantly nodded.
“I’m glad to see you believe me. Let’s get to the main point now then.” Subaru’s expression tensed. Azusa straightened up to brace herself for what he was going to reveal next.