The Lady in Red

Chapter 5

After lunch, Damon and Lilith made their way to the Duke’s office, answering his summons.

“Sit down, you two,” the Duke instructed. They took their seats, attentively. “I assume you both know what I intend to discuss.”

“Yes, Father.” Damon met his father’s gaze with resolve. “I want to marry Lady Lilith.”

The Duke sighed, nodding slowly. “I have no objections to that, but…” His gaze shifted to Lilith. “Your father is quite insistent that Damon should marry your eldest sister instead.”

Damon scoffed. “What’s so special about her, anyway?”

Lilith gave a gentle smile. “It’s because of my mental state. My father sees it as a reason I shouldn’t be engaged to you, my lord.”

The Duke studied Lilith, a puzzled look crossing his face. “You don’t seem like someone with mental health concerns.”

Lilith only smiled, leaving Damon to ponder what the Duke had hinted at. There was a guardedness to how the Marquis treated her, almost as if he feared letting her be fully known to others. As if she were… somehow dangerous.

But Damon’s resolve remained unshaken. Whatever he might uncover about her, his determination to marry Lilith only deepened. He was willing to open his heart fully to her, even if one day, she shattered it to pieces.

“Alright. I’ll speak to the Marquis again and see if I can persuade him,” the Duke said, rising from his chair. “Now, I have paperwork awaiting me at the palace.” He looked pointedly at Damon. “Make sure to escort Lady Lilith home—don’t let her leave alone.”

Damon nodded firmly. “Of course, Father.”

After the Duke departed, Damon and Lilith strolled out of the office and into the lush garden.

“Are you thirsty?” Damon asked her, noticing the warmth in the air. “I can bring you something if you’d like.”

Lilith looked at him shyly. “J-Juice, please.”

“Alright. I’ll ask one of the maids to bring some.” Damon gently patted her head before heading back into the mansion.

Left alone, Lilith wandered through the garden. She admired the vast array of flowers; tulips, daisies, lilacs, dahlias, and her favorite—roses—seemed to bloom everywhere. A soft smile spread across her face as she reached out to gently touch one of the roses.

But suddenly, a sharp, searing pain pierced her mind.

“N-No… N-Not now…”

The pain intensified, and she let out a heart-wrenching scream.

“Lilith!” Damon dropped the glass of juice on the bench and ran to her side. “What’s wrong?”

“P-Please, get away… M-My lord… please!” Lilith staggered back, clutching her head, her voice choked with agony. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to stay conscious, her vision blurring as she felt herself slipping away.

Damon’s heart sank as he watched her in distress, desperate to help but unsure how to ease her suffering.

Damon watched in shock as Lilith’s eyes darkened to a piercing red, and her gentle expression twisted into a bold smile, a pair of sharp fangs now visible.

“Lilith?” he stammered.

She straightened and smiled at him, a strangely familiar look in her gaze. “Ah, Lord Damon, it’s wonderful to see you again.” She stepped closer, brushing her fingers across his cheek. “It’s been so long since I could look at you this closely.”

“Wh-What… what do you mean? Lilith…” Damon whispered, his voice trembling.

The woman before him laughed lightly. “You wouldn’t know me yet. Allow me to introduce myself—I’m Lila. I’m Lilith’s other self, and… we’re vampires.”

Damon’s heart pounded, stunned. “Vampires?”

“Yes,” she confirmed with a cold smile. “This is why the Marquis keeps her hidden. He’s terrified of what we are.”

The shock in Damon’s eyes deepened as she began to explain. “Lilith’s mother was also a vampire. She lived quietly among humans, adopted by a human family who adored her. She was beautiful, compassionate, and kind—qualities that captivated the Marquis when he first met her. But he was already married. He pursued her anyway, and despite his marriage, he took her to bed. But when he discovered what she was, he abandoned her without a second thought.”

Damon listened, his stomach twisting at the painful story.

“When Lilith was born, she was raised lovingly by her mother, a happy child despite the absence of her father. But then the Marchioness discovered them. She tore Lilith from her mother and took her in, but not out of kindness. No, she saw Lilith as a stain on her family. She abused Lilith, forcing her to bear the weight of her father’s betrayal.” Lila’s eyes narrowed. “I was born from that suffering, emerging to shield her from the constant cruelty. I was her protector.”

Damon felt a surge of fury on Lilith’s behalf. He could barely imagine the trauma she’d endured.

Lila’s gaze darkened. “I helped her survive as a child. But as she grew stronger, she no longer needed me as often. I hated being pushed away, so I forced myself to surface. And each time I came through, my bitterness took over, and I unleashed that rage on everything around me.”

Damon stood there, stunned, still processing everything Lila had revealed. Lilith had carried such a painful past, hidden beneath her gentle demeanor, and it was Lila who had borne the brunt of it, fiercely protecting her.

As he was lost in thought, Lila suddenly leaned in, pulling him close, and before he could react, her lips met his in a bold, lingering kiss. Damon’s heart raced as her words echoed softly, “See you again soon.” And just like that, her gaze softened, her red eyes fading back to their usual hue as she returned to being Lilith, who immediately slumped forward.

“Lilith…” Damon whispered, catching her before she could fall.

Carefully, he lifted her in his arms and carried her inside, determined to guard her secret and protect her as she had been denied protection for so long. He wouldn’t let her bear this alone.

To be continued.