Chapter 218: Interlude: Scarlet - We Reap What We Sow

Scarlet wasn’t worried, since her shadows kept them more or less invisible; they were only obscure outlines against the wall, and a quick sweep of flashlights wasn’t quite enough attention to catch the static, shadowy shapes they made against a black graffiti backdrop.

Once Terry was locked inside the armored vehicle, placed in a straitjacket, and muzzled, Scarlet teleported them into the back; a soldier was with him, but Illa’s hypnotic whisper and glance charmed him to fall into a world of dreams.

The ginger’s lips drew into a grimace as she collapsed next to the soldier, leaning against his shoulder as Terry fixated on her like she was his whole world.

"I’m... so thirsty," she whimpered, "but I probably shouldn’t nibble on these guys’ blood, right? Mmmm!"

"Right," Scarlet softly chuckled, fiddling with Terry’s muzzle to remove it from the blond man’s head. "We can stop off at a hospital nearby; the doctors know me and have given me blood bags before. Nice work with the guard, by the way," she said with a thumbs-up that brought a cute smile to the girl’s lips.

"Thanks! Umm... I’m trying. It’s hard... not to feed," Illa mumbled, gulping and looking at her compelled High Vampire. "Can I... feed off Terry?"

"Of course, Mistress," the handsome blond man accepted, opening himself up. "I live for you."

"Eeesh... Can’t... you wait for the hospital?" Scarlet tentatively asked, studying Illa’s twitches and flushed cheeks; her body temperature was rising after she’d charmed the soldier, sweat actually starting to form on her skin. "You... don’t look well."

"No, no—I’m fine," Illa totally lied, hugging herself. "I’ve never... drank anything but live blood since Mother told me t-to. Umm. I can try to do it your way, though..."

"Mmmgm. If... it’s a vampire, I... guess it’s okay?" Scarlet tried to rationalize, slowly scooting away from him. "Who is your... mother? What Legend or Myth is she from to be a Progenitor?"

Illa’s pigtails weaved back and forth, and she stubbornly set her brow in defiance, despite her sweat-slicked face as her thirst grew by the second.

"I... I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. Hehe. I don’t... really know who Mother is; she just... kind of came and went, which is why I think you’re so amazing. I was here on vacation from Austria, and then... all the craziness in Miami Beach happened—mmm..."

She whimpered, fingers pressing into her sides as her eyes started to show a distinctly more ruby tone, making Scarlet sigh.

"Just drink his blood already. Are you sure vampire blood will work?"

"Mhm! But... are you sure?"

"Yes! Do it," Scarlet snapped, trying to keep her voice down. "Just tell me... No, we don’t have time..." She wanted to curse when she heard people outside asking who wanted to join the soldier to guard Terry. "We are on a clock— Wait... I’m stupid."

"Huh?!"

Scarlet’s blood snaked out of her body to cut Terry’s bindings, and she reached over to take Illa’s hand, pulling her on top of the blond man. Pressing closer, she teleported them out of the vehicle seconds before the door opened, no doubt causing a panic, but this was probably better.

They exited the shadows inside a building’s boiler room two streets away, and she stumbled back in surprise as Illa tackled Terry to the ground, breathing heavily.

"Woah! Woah! Illa?!"

The ginger ripped the straitjacket to shreds along with the man’s fancy shirt before sinking her fangs into his smooth, muscular left breast. Terry relaxed, and Scarlet noticed two more bite marks near the same location as the man’s large arms gently held the trembling girl against his body.

Turning away and feeling her cheeks burning, Scarlet cleared her throat and cast her vampiric sight anywhere but the ginger girl latched onto the man’s chest. Their heavy breathing and grunts didn’t help her flaming, pointed ears; she couldn’t keep her gaze away for long, though.

Gradually, her throat thickened as she peered through their flesh to the blood being sucked out of Terry’s veins and soaking into Illa’s gums to bring an energetic pulse throughout the ginger’s entire body, quivering with pleasure.

"Mmagh!" The ginger unlocked her fangs and fell atop Terry, her chest heaving with her ragged pants as if just getting through an intense exercise. "Haaa-haaa... I’m... sorry, Scarlet," she wept, burying her face in her arms. "I couldn’t help myself! I’m such a monster! I’m sorry..."

"Mistress... I am yours to take," Terry caringly whispered, making the girl choke.

"No! No, you belong to Selene! I just... took you, and you don’t know any better! I’m so... evil."

A pressure erupted within Scarlet’s breast, and she was already crawling over to hug the girl before she knew what she was doing. "You’re not a monster, Illa... You didn’t want this."

"No, you don’t get it!" Illa sniffled, trying to shake her off for the first time. "If you knew what kind of monster I am, you’d... you’d hate me. Everyone hates me, but I can’t control myself! I’m evil! I’m evil..."

A sad smile lifted Scarlet’s lips as she hugged the ginger, remembering Rachel doing the same for her when she’d hit her lows, and her dad’s words pricked her heart again:

’Please, Scarlet... don’t give up hope to live. Find people you can trust because I know you are so hurt right now... lost and afraid. I want you to find a family that can support you better than we could. I love you, and that will never change...’ Thank you, Dad, Rachel...

Her stress slid away, and she tried to comfort Illa through her panic attack, afraid she’d done something irredeemable; again, her instincts told her something was wrong, yet she made the choice to let things play out.

Yes, there are so many red flags with Illa, but I can’t turn her away. Maybe she is manipulating my emotions. Maybe she is after something from me or even a plant by Mom... It doesn’t matter, because I’d want someone to give me a chance, too... Someone did give me a chance.

After a few minutes, Illa’s hiccups mostly subsided, and she swapped positions to return her embrace, weeping softly, her hot breath pressing against Scarlet’s ear. "You’ll abandon me. Everyone abandons me... You should throw me away."

Fingers tightening against her quivering back, Scarlet shook her head. "We reap what we sow, and I want to sow good seeds. I want to believe you. So, are you going to help me get my dad’s body back?"

"Yes! I promise! I promise I will!" Illa cried, hugging her with all her might, which was shockingly weak compared to what Scarlet had anticipated.

One thing was for sure: Illa was a different kind of vampire than typical media portrayed. She didn’t have the physical power or dead vibe most carried, and her need for physical touch and companionship seemed genuine beyond dispute.

Taking a few deep breaths, Illa scooted back, cheeks flushed and showing stretchy black booty shorts under her dress as she sat across from her. "Okay! No more waterworks, Pumpkin; it’s time to get to work! We got a body snatcher to catch!"

Scarlet giggled at the self-proclaimed nickname and vigor that now overtook the ginger, spotting Terry sitting off to the side, waiting to be of use to his mistress. "Feeling better now after having vampire blood?"

"Oh, I’m 150%," Illa boasted, holding up her arm, pulling back the sleeve of her shoulder-less dress, and flexing her flat bicep. "Terry, what did your previous mistress do with the body?!"

They both shifted to stare at the now shirtless blond man, the holes in his chest slowly healing over, but not completely. Scarlet held her breath as he blinked and glanced between them.

"I wasn’t told."