Chapter 96: Chapter 96

Vlad kept his promise. He untied Alvaro’s hands.

Alvaro immediately moved and sat on the edge of the bed, as far away from Vlad as possible. He rubbed his sore, red wrists. The ropes had only been loosened a few times when he begged to go to the bathroom. When he came back and was tied up again, it hurt even more.

He looked down at his body, covered in bruises that were starting to darken. He grimaced, hoping Huron wouldn’t see them.

Alvaro searched for his clothes. He found them neatly folded on a small table. But when he tried to stand up to get them, his legs shook. He collapsed to the floor.

"Shit!" he muttered weakly. He had never felt this weak in his entire life. It was like all his bones had turned to jelly and wouldn’t obey him. His head felt incredibly heavy. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novel⟡fire.net

What was wrong with him? He stared at his trembling hands, struggling to hold himself up.

He was startled when Vlad was suddenly beside him, holding him and lifting him back onto the bed. Alvaro struggled, not wanting to be touched, but he had no strength. He lay back on the bed.

Only his desire to return to the palace kept Alvaro moving, even though his body wanted to stay still all day. He didn’t want to be here any longer, not with that monster.

Vlad watched Alvaro move away, his eyes following every motion. It was strange to see Alvaro so quiet. He didn’t scream or curse at him. Alvaro only pushed his hand away every time he tried to help, as if Vlad were something disgusting.

Alvaro hurriedly put on his pants, nearly tripping several times. He didn’t want to spend another second here, and Vlad knew it.

Vlad approached when Alvaro was fully dressed. "Sweety..." he called softly, wrapping his arms around Alvaro’s waist.

He expected Alvaro to yell at the nickname. But Alvaro only glanced at him before roughly pushing his hands away.

Vlad smirked. He knew the man was angry with him. Maybe furious. He felt guilty, but of course he wasn’t going to apologize.

"Do you want to take a walk before we go back to the palace?" Vlad asked.

Alvaro didn’t answer. He gathered his strength to move, walk, run, anything to get out of there. He walked out the door, remembering there was a long hallway leading to the shop. He just had to follow it.

Vlad followed and stood in front of the door with his arms crossed.

Alvaro looked away, refusing to say goodbye. He quickly walked off, looking for a way out.

He kept walking. The hallway was dark, with only candles along the walls. There were no doors, no windows, only stone walls and a musty smell.

It felt like he had walked a long way, but he couldn’t find any sign of the hallway ending. He looked back and saw only the long corridor he had just walked through.

He looked forward again and kept going.

It felt like he had been walking for more than half an hour. But Vlad had brought him here from the store in less than a minute.

Did he go the wrong way?

Alvaro was exhausted. Sweat was pouring down his body. His legs felt weak.

But he didn’t want to stop.

Until finally he gave up. It felt like he had walked for miles.

"Where the hell is the door?!" Alvaro cursed, breathing hard.

He couldn’t go on. He couldn’t even stand anymore.

Alvaro fell to his knees, his body trembling.

"Still here?" Vlad’s voice echoed.

Alvaro turned sharply, staring at Vlad’s face beside him. At the door.

He looked around. He was back where he started, in front of the room!

After walking for an hour!

He glared at Vlad. "What are you doing? How did I get here?!"

Vlad crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe.

"Well, you’ve just been walking in the same place. Aren’t you tired?"

Alvaro gaped. Impossible. He had clearly walked far. He had seen the long hallway.

Vlad chuckled, walking closer.

Alvaro tensed and stepped back.

"If you want to go back, you have to follow me," Vlad said, holding out his hand.

Alvaro turned away, furious. He wanted to avoid the vampire, but he couldn’t. He was sure the vampire and the witch had done something to him or the hallway.

Vlad just smiled at Alvaro’s confusion. He knew Alvaro was wondering what was happening. But they were in Lilian’s world. High-level witches could create portals separate from human life, with time flowing the same as in the human world.

Lilian had given him and Redert access to come and go as they pleased. Humans without access would just walk in circles until they died.

Alvaro reluctantly grabbed Vlad’s hand. Vlad pulled him quickly, causing Alvaro to bump into his chest. Before he could react, Vlad had already lifted him up.

"You know I can walk on my own," Alvaro said, hating how weak he must have looked.

"Do you also know I can carry you all day?" Vlad replied with a small grin, walking calmly.

Alvaro stared in disbelief when he saw the brightly lit candy shop.

How was that possible? He looked around in all directions. It was definitely a candy shop. Only, it was empty except for Lilian, who was humming in the corner, working on something. A doll?

When she saw them, Lilian turned with a bright smile.

Alvaro shuddered when she ran toward them. Without realizing it, he gripped Vlad’s shoulders.

Vlad just chuckled. "She likes you," he said.

Whatever, Alvaro thought.

Lilian reached out, but before she could pinch his cheek, Alvaro stopped her, holding her tiny hand.

"Don’t you dare touch me," Alvaro glared.

"Awwwww, you’re so cute..." Lilian walked around him. Then she looked at Vlad. "When will you bring him here again?"

Alvaro quickly answered, "I won’t come here again!"

Lilian chuckled. "Oh, puppy, you’ll be back soon. Don’t worry."

Alvaro frowned at her confident words. He was sure he wouldn’t set foot here again. But he felt a shiver at the witch’s gaze and smile.

Vlad chuckled softly. "You need to be careful then. I gave you more trouble."

Lilian tilted her head, smiling widely at Vlad. "Whatever it takes, as long as you get the one you love, I’ll help you," she said.

Alvaro was caught off guard when she suddenly pinched his cheek. He could only glare angrily.

Lilian laughed and went back to her place.

Vlad darted out of there so fast Alvaro couldn’t even breathe. Without realizing it, he clung tightly to Vlad.

"Don’t go into the palace," Alvaro said. He was sure they would catch the vampire if they saw them entering together.

Vlad didn’t care. He quickly climbed the palace gates, crossed the roof, flew over the garden, and landed on a tree branch.

Alvaro couldn’t measure Vlad’s speed. All he saw was a blur of light. At this speed, he was sure he wouldn’t even notice a creature darting past.

But he gripped Vlad’s collar tighter. "Put me down here!" he shouted, trying to slow the vampire down.

Vlad finally stopped, landing beneath a large oak tree in the garden near the servant quarters. The garden was empty. In the distance, a few houses with guards could be seen, but they wouldn’t look this way.

Alvaro felt his heart pounding wildly. He immediately knelt, his legs still weak.

Vlad reached out to help, but Alvaro pushed him away again.

"Don’t... touch me," Alvaro hissed, glaring at him. The memory of being tied up and raped by this man filled him with fury. He felt worse than betrayed.

Vlad stood silently, his gaze calm. "Are you angry with me?"

Alvaro started toward the royal residence but stopped to look back at the vampire.

"You still have to ask?" he snapped. He couldn’t believe Vlad was still asking after what he had done.

Vlad looked at Alvaro, seeing he was dead serious. Usually, Alvaro was talkative, always cursing at him, but now his eyes were full of hatred.

A look that made him uncomfortable. The sweet Larue he once knew now looked like he wanted to kill him. It made Vlad’s chest tighten.

Vlad wanted to hold him, but he knew Alvaro would only hate him more.

"I went too far with you... Forgive me." Vlad remembered how many times he had said those words in his life, but this time he meant them. He didn’t want to lose Alvaro any more than he wanted to lose himself.

Alvaro froze, surprised. Was the vampire seriously apologizing?

He turned his face away and walked off with heavy steps.

Vlad sighed. "I’m sorry. Next time, you can tie me up if you want."

Alvaro rolled his eyes. "You think I’m attracted to you? You think that changes anything? You’re a crazy bastard!"

"We were just making love. It wasn’t that bad," said Vlad. Besides, hadn’t he satisfied Alvaro several times?

His words made Alvaro even angrier. "Making love?! You call kidnapping me, tying me up, and forcing me, as making love? Unbelievable!" Alvaro shook his head, wondering if Vlad even had a heart.

"I love you, Larue... Alvaro, whoever you are... You know I missed you so much, I lost control. I admit it. I was angry seeing you with that woman."

Alvaro looked at Vlad seriously. "No. You never loved me. You’re just stuck in your memories. I’m not Larue, and I never will be. I’m not your puppet, Lord Vlad. I have feelings. I have a heart. I can feel pain. And I know you’ll never care about that. You just see me as something you can take whenever you want."

Vlad stood silently. For the first time, he heard another human speak to him . He realized Alvaro truly hated him. The fear of losing this human grew stronger.

"Forgive me. Tell me what I can do to make up for my mistake," Vlad asked. His voice was calm, but his eyes were anxious.

Alvaro shook his head. "I wondered where you were when you didn’t come. I thought I had feelings for you, even if just a little. But now I’m sure I can’t love a monster like you."

Silence filled the air.

Alvaro looked at Vlad. The vampire stood there without saying a word. For a second, Alvaro regretted his words, but he knew he couldn’t love him.

Alvaro turned and walked toward his place. His mind was racing. He thought Vlad would chase after him.

But when he looked back, the vampire was gone.

He had said what he needed to say. He should be satisfied. The vampire wouldn’t bother him again.

But why did his heart ache?

And why was he so angry now?

The vampire hadn’t denied his words or tried to make him stay. He had just disappeared.

"BASTARD!" he cursed angrily.