Live With Your Blood || LingOrm

Chapter 20: The Cost of Secrets

Ling's body ached, a dull, unrelenting pain that had settled into her bones for over a week. No amount of human blood had been able to heal her, not even during the therapy sessions at the clinic where she would suck the blood of anxiety-stricken patients, to ease their mental stress. The blood, which usually cured her swiftly, seemed ineffective nowadays.

"The bruises on your body have decreased," Professor Satorn said as he removed the needle from Ling's arm. His voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed his concern. "Come back tomorrow. We'll continue with this mixture of blood IV drips every day until your body composition stabilizes."

It had been a week since she began treatments at Professor Satorn's lab. Normally, her supernatural healing powers made her the fastest to recover, but now the pain lingered.

Ling had no explanation since her last encounter with Hen, and the situation gnawed at her. Her body, typically resilient, now felt foreign to her, as if something deeper than physical pain was afflicting her.

You've gotten weaker.

Hen's words played in Ling's mind. He was right. She began to feel insecure if any other enemies were aware of her current condition.

"What the hell is this?!" Suddenly, the lab door burst open, slamming against the wall. Gulf stormed in, anger blazing in his eyes. In his hand, he held a crumpled piece of paper, which he shoved in Ling's face.

"Explain now!" Gulf demanded, his voice sharp and filled with accusation.

Ling's heart skipped a beat as her eyes scanned the paper. "How did—?"

"How did I get this?" Gulf cut her off, his tone rough and unrelenting. "The real question is how could you let this happen?"

Professor Satorn, sensing the tension, took the paper from Gulf's hand and glanced over it. His brows furrowed as he read the contents, his confusion quickly turning into disbelief.

"What does this mean?" Professor Satorn's eyes were now fixed on Ling, waiting for an explanation. But Ling remained silent, her mouth dry, her mind scrambling for words.

"You don't want to explain?" Gulf's patience snapped. "Fine, then I'll ask Orm myself!" He spun on his heel, ready to storm out of the lab.

"No!" Ling's voice was sharp and desperate, stopping him in his tracks. She knew her brother well enough to understand that he wasn't bluffing. If Gulf confronted Orm, everything would unravel.

Gulf turned slowly, his expression deadly serious. "How long has this deal been in place, sis?" His voice was cold, controlled fury.

"Almost three months," Ling finally admitted, her voice barely a whisper.

The confession made Gulf clench his fists, his fury palpable. He stared at his sister as if he no longer recognized her.

"You know what happens when you drink the blood of the same person repeatedly, don't you?" Professor Satorn asked, his voice low but laced with reproach. "You will get addicted, Ling. You know that."

Ling lowered her head, guilt weighing her down. She had no defense, no clear answer as to why she had made the deal in the first place.

"So the blood you sent here every week, Orm didn't give it willingly?" Professor Satorn asked, his tone now stern.

"Of course not! It's all spelled out in that damn agreement!" Gulf slammed the paper down on the table, the impact making Ling flinch.

"Wait... something's off." Professor Satorn's sat at his working desk. His eyes flicked to Orm's blood test results on the desktop screen, his brow furrowed. "Usually, sucking blood from the same person repeatedly strengthens a vampire. You should be growing stronger, not weaker." He began pacing, lost in thought. "But Orm's blood... it's making your body deteriorate. Why?"