Twisted Tales: Vampire Bites By Midnight (Malleus x Reader)

Fang 22: What Is The Meaning of This?

You stopped in your tracks as the music pulled in your curiosity as Lilia and his servants left you behind.

Not that you cared.

Since you were spirited away here, you might as well get accustomed to what the goings on were.

"What's up?" Grim asked, taking notice of your sudden stop.

You didn't answer, your eyes staring at the gothic dress of the partygoers, some of them holding a glass filled with dark red liquid.

Was it wine?

Grim sniffed at the air and wrinkled his nose.

"Yuck, that stuff they're drinkin' smells awful," he hissed. "And what's with that music? It's so gloomy!"

While his comment about the beverage made your stomach churn, you couldn't agree with his opinion on the music.

The atmospheric tones of the bass guitars and drums felt enchanting.

It also felt familiar, something you could have sworn was on the radio a few times you heard going to and fro from work.

Most of the people seemed to be either dancing or chatting about who knows, enjoying themselves to the music and the company of the persons in front of them.

One of them seemed aware of you and Grim's peeping and shot you a spine-tingling glare once your eyes had met.

You jumped and hurriedly made your way away from the balcony to see where Lilia had gone.

He and his servants had not wandered far, a confused and worried look on his face.

"You must take care to not wander off, Child of Eden. Not until you have a firm grasp of this place."

You frowned but nodded without argument before the silent tour continued.

You walked for what felt like hours until they finally stopped at a fancy wooden door, its hinges creaking eerily as it was led open by one of the servants.

Everyone, including Lilia, made a B line as he bowed and ushered you to enter.

You and Grim took a glance at one another before you hesitantly made your way inside.

The room was surprisingly bright, though a few of the building's gothic decorations made themselves known through the black bat-patterned border and the dark furniture.

A large, spacious window that overlooked the roof and area took up a great majority of the wall, and the bed was luxurious and spacious enough to fit at least five people, with a mountain of throw pillows on its head.

The room was equally spacious and lacking in personal touches, but felt less like a place you'd take to a captive and more like a 5-star hotel stay.

"A maid will come later once your bath is prepared," was all Lilia said before he closed the door, leaving you and Grim to yourselves.

As Grim stretched his legs, you thought over Lilia's mention of a bath before you examined yourself in the mirror on the dresser.

Right...

After everything that happened, you realized you and Grim weren't in the best condition.

As you took a part of your shirt to your nose, you sniffed it.

You grimaced.

"Hey, Y/n," Grim said suddenly, "got any idea why they're givin' us the kingly treatment? I mean, I don't mind this at all, but...ain't we hostages?"

You nodded.

"I've been pondering that the moment that guy bowed to us. He also called me 'Child of Eden'...I think it's connected."

He sniffed around for a moment.

"Hmph. If they think they can hold the Great Grim here all day, they got another thing coming!"

A mischievous smile formed through his whiskers.

"Look at this! These idiots left such a huge escape route for us! This window could easily fit both of us!"

He hopped over towards the window.

You felt your anxiety grow.

"...Wait, Grim. Remember that these guys have been stalking us for a while. That window might be a trap."

He turned around and thought it over.

"Oh crap, you're right. But wait! They seem to think of us as honored guests or whatever! Can't we use that to our advantage?"

"We don't know to what extent that leads, Grim," you said as you sat on the end of the bed. "Doing something like escape while we don't know who we're up against isn't a good idea."

"Mmrrggh..." He frowned and crossed his paws, visibly upset.

"Don't worry, Grim," you took him up into your arms as you rubbed his head and back, "we absolutely can't stay here for long, but we gotta think smart about these things. This is their territory."

"You would be wise to give up on the matter of escape completely," an unfamiliar voice spoke in your ear.

You and Grim jumped, nearly falling on the floor.

Despite your and Grim's efforts, neither of you could place the source of the voice.

Did they plant devices in the room?! You thought as you searched around the walls.

"A g-g-g-g-ghost?!" Grim's teeth chattered as he shook.

"I'm not a ghost," the voice said flatly.

You frowned, your irritation overriding your fear.

"Then show yourself already!"

By command, the window flew open, which drew your attention to it before a young man who looked no older than Ace in a beautiful white suit and neck-length silver hair appeared on the bed in a squatting position.



The window closed almost immediately after he appeared, his unblinking, steely gaze on the both of you.

You tensed in suspicion and anger, guarding him against Grim, who shared your glare.

"How long have you been snooping in on us?!" you demanded.

"I had been in this room long before you had come in here," he said as his stare intensified. "I was tasked to act as your handler."

You and Grim shared nervous glances.

I was right, you thought, in the end, we're hostages after all.