My Most Precious Human

Both Sariel and Will locked their eyes on me, anticipating my reaction, but I wasn't sure how to react. Half of my heart jumped for joy that I had something valuable to give Sariel, but the other half kept screaming that I had already been in this kind of situation. I hated being an item, someone's priceless possession. An owner would never have feelings for his "thing", no matter how precious, and at that moment I felt like I became literally a blood bag.

"Wow... I have never fought that I would become someone's energy drink..." I muttered, smiling bitterly.

"Lilith..." Will sighed, his hands reaching out to soothe me. "That's not—"

"You don't get it, Lilith, do you?" Sariel burst out, cutting Will off, "You are the only one with my mark. You are my woman." He gazed confidently into my eyes.

Once again, half of my heart called for a celebration, while the other half treated Sariel's words as another reason to be restless.

"I just..." I sealed my lips, trying to find the right words, then took a deep breath, "I've been treated like a thing because of my DNA. You cannot blame me for being restless when I find out something within me is valuable for a reason," I stated nervously.

Sariel stormed from his bed towards me. Then he leaned over me with his stare, disallowing any disobedience. My whole body submitted to him in an instant. His hand grabbed the back of my head while his lips were aimed at mine. He caressed my soft, pink skin, grazing it slowly as if it was something amazingly fragile. He sent me a tickling sensation that made the corners of my lips move up, forming a faint smile. Then he used that moment to slip his tongue and stir up passion within me. I didn't know how long our kiss lasted, but we certainly had exhausted Will's patience. He interrupted us, ostentatiously clearing his throat. I flinched, embarrassed, and moved my head back, escaping Sariel's lips. Sariel wasn't bothered by Will's actions at all. He kept his eyes on me the entire time, then he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards his bed to sit there beside him.

"Everything will change from now on, you'll see," Sariel claimed, while a mischievous smirk appeared on his face.

I was almost confident that things would be different from that moment. I just wasn't certain if I was going to like that change...

After I had reluctantly acknowledged my new situation, Will told me more information he had found out about my blood. One thing was a little comforting... I learned that my bone marrow produces blood cells much faster than any normal human body would. That was the only reason I was still able to stand on my own two feet after being drained by Sariel the night before. I also started to wonder if it wasn't the only reason I was able to cure Sariel's poisoning and survive his bloodlust attack.

"You actually regenerate quite fast. I think it's this tiny werewolf thing in you," Will speculated. "I'm also pretty sure the blood Sariel gave you recently made your body stronger. If you agreed, I would love to test your-"

"She won't be giving you more blood any time soon." Sariel glared at him, "Lilith needs to rest so that I-"

"Could you please not decide about my blood on your own?!" I hissed at Sariel, "I'm not some kind of object that belongs to you!"

"But you do belong to me." He smirked, putting his hand around my waist.

I became speechless... annoyed but speechless. He kept making me flustered and unable to talk back as if my brain melted each time I looked at him. Will burst out laughing. Unlike me, he found our quarrel absolutely entertaining. I looked daggers at him, barely restraining myself from bursting out. Fortunately, he understood my intention quickly and sealed his lips, although I could still see his eyes filled with hilarity.

"Anyway..." Will did everything he could to stop his lips from forming a smile, "Let me know if anything happens."

"Do you expect anything else to happen?" I asked nervously.

Will took a deep breath while painting a serious, doctor-like expression, then gazed at Sariel.

"The amount of silver in the bullet you got shot should have killed you. With this kind of poison, even if you emptied ten or twenty blood bags, you would have been dead. This is only a guess, but I think that no other blood except Lilith's could have healed you," he stated.

Sariel looked straight into my eyes. His gaze felt warm, almost emotional.

"I am more than aware that I am alive only because of Lilith," Sariel stated. "She is my lucky charm." He winked at me.

Pesky butterflies in my stomach forced a stupid grin on my face. Whenever his words sounded warm like that, they shook each wall that I had built around my heart. He kept confusing me, making me wonder it I could trust the warmth he was giving me.

"Now... this is beginning to freak me out." Will grimaced awkwardly, looking at us, "I have never seen this merciless Duke smiling like that, and I'm not sure I can handle it. I'm going back to New Argent City, and I suggest you do the same." He took his briefcase and walked out of the room.

I knew that we should head back to the city as well, although I wished we could stay there longer. I was terrified that once we left the Calvet's estate, this sweet dream I was in would end. I was scared of meeting the harsh reality that I assumed was awaiting me, yet leaving was unavoidable.

As soon as we walked out of the mansion, anxiety filled my mind. Unlike me, Sariel seemed composed and serene. His sight looked sharp and focused, and he seemed to be more powerful than ever. I wished I could have some of his confidence. For me, it felt like we had eloped, gotten married during temporary insanity, and were currently going back home to tell our parents...

"Calm down, Lilith." Sariel smiled while opening the door of his car for me, "You have my mark now. It will make you untouchable," he claimed.

"Do you... regret marking me?" I asked nervously while sitting in the passenger's seat.

Sariel smirked and gazed into my eyes.

"Some things are meant to happen. Since it wasn't my choice, our fate made that choice for me." He shrugged and got into the car.

For me, it sounded like he merely accepted the fact that it had already happened. These weren't the kinds of words that would sound comforting. I smiled sourly, trying to ignore the stabbing pain in my heart. I stayed silent most of the way back. Perhaps my thoughts were irrational. A normal person's thoughts would have been occupied by the fact that I had been kidnapped, and that the attacks on Sariel's castle and on New Argent City's blood banks could have been linked with my kidnapping, but all I could think about was the mark. I had used to crave Sariel's bite, yet I had never thought about the consequences. Now that it had all happened, it was too late to ponder. It was time to embrace and accept the situation as it was.

We finally arrived at the castle. Even from afar, I could see the burned and collapsed east wing, the site of the attack. It was like reality's first slap. I was restlessly expecting more slaps to come shortly, but once we were getting closer to the main entrance, I saw something peculiar...

Every servant working at the castle and every person working for Sariel personally was standing in front of the entrance, creating one long line. I was quick to assume that it must have been their way of apologizing to their master for not protecting the castle well enough or something like that. Sariel stopped the car right in the middle of that line, then quickly got out of the car and ran to the door on my side to open it.

"It's time, Lilith," he announced as if there was something important about to happen.

I looked at him, confused. A nervous smile painted my face. I gave him my trembling hand and let him help me get out of the car. As soon as I did, everyone standing in the line bowed down. It took me a few seconds to realize that they weren't bowing to Sariel, but me!

Suddenly, Mr. Gotha stepped forward, looking at me.

"I have taken the liberty of moving Ms. Leber's belongings to the north wing. I sincerely hope you will find your new chamber comfortable," he said.

I actually couldn't believe that he really said those words and that those words were meant for me. I smiled awkwardly in response, still trying to comprehend what was going on. A proud smile appeared on Sariel's face. He ceremonially took my hand and kissed it lightly for everyone gathered there to see.

"For those who are still unaware of that fact," he called out, "This is Ms. Lilith Leber, the new Mistress of the House of Calvet!"