It all started with her right after Anna began her campaign in the Elf Kingdom and departed the moonlight mist.
During her discourse, Demiurge told me that he had something important to talk about, and we addressed that issue the following day after I made sure everything would be alright with the campaign.
He came to me with Yuri Alpha, carrying a 'prisoner' who Haku had willfully taken before she could get exterminated. I was sitting lazily on a chair, having my break from the therapies and giving Haku the side eye as she giggled. Solution was nowhere to be seen and mysteriously enough, Kurumi wasn't around either... they were planning something that at the moment wasn't very clear to me, but I knew it was mischievous, because if the three of them are involved, what else can it be?
After she presented the prisoner to me, Haku didn't explain anything and just turned around, "Master, I will leave you to it. 'We' have some work to do~" The vixen said that and left like a proper pet that does whatever she wants without asking.
My pets all behave like cats; those animals just hop off the door, go and wander around, do whatever they want, and then, when they want some affection, they shamelessly come back to cling to you.
Shaltear knelt in front of me without so much as looking at me in the eye; I waved my hand to cast Demiurge and his group away then told them that they could resume their activities tomorrow, as I had already told Solution and Kurumi that they could rest for a day as Katsuyu also needed to rest, and then we would resume the recovery mission; there was still a lot of territory to cover... this would be our first and last resting period until the job was done.
With one look, everyone left me alone with Shaltear, but there were still some people in the vicinity socialising with each other as they awaited to be fetched out of the moonlight mist, so I took Shaltear to somewhere more private.
I flicked my fingers, and we both reappeared in a different region from the moonlight mist, by ourselves.
"..."
"..."
I analysed the vampiress. Dressed in a dark pink and black regal attire with what resembled a tiara on her long pink hair, she was gorgeous and petite with pale white skin. She definitely didn't look like a woman who has lived for centuries, but I know better than to think she's a child after dealing with the likes of Ophis and even Haku, who sometimes likes to wander around looking like a young girl.
Monsters like them are especially fond of never looking the same although Ophis retains her appearance was a busty milf just because she knows that's what I like.
I assume Shaltear is no different, if something I know about Vampires (from movies) is that they live long. Last time I saw her, I gave her a taste of my blood... She hadn't changed much in appearance from that time, but her demeanour towards me was different.
She didn't say anything to me and only knelt like a helpless prisoner, even though she wasn't shackled or restrained.
"Aren't you going to attack me? Nothing?" I asked, rather bored at her silence, she was such an eloquent woman before, but he desire for my blood has made her into an embarrassed mess.
"What would be the use of that?" She didn't look at me and answered with her hands gently placed on her lap. She could be anything but never unladylike.
"You know, Shaltear... when you get too strong things get kinda boring, nobody comes to you with the intent to kill anymore–".
"I understand that feeling very well, Osiris", She mumbled and finally looked up at me. I guess she was someone kinda strong in her regard. I levitated her and created a chair for her to sit on then a table and some utencils.
Without even waiting for my input, Shaltear began to prepare tea. I wasn't intending for her to do it, I was going to do it, but a look from her told me she insisted. It was as if this action made her comfortable and released some inhibitions, nothing like a cup of tea.
There were moments of silence until she spoke, "It is not my desire to kill you, let alone even if I wanted, my chances of success are slim, aren't they?".
"Probably..."
She put the cup of tea in front of me, I took a sip, it was delicious as I expected, my favourite tea and it wasn't poisoned. She then sat in front of me and had a taste herself, marvelling at how delicious it was.
"What is the plan used to fetch this tea, if you'd allow me?~" She asked rather courtly.
"This is called a Darjeeling Tea, from a country back in my world called 'India', it is made from an exquisite plant branded Camellia Sinensis, it is one of my favourites".
"It is delicious. Thanks for making this a more welcoming atmosphere. As expected, you are a kind individual, just as they said..." Her words began with a smile that lost intensity with every word.
She took something out of her wrist, it was a needle. After looking at me with a begging look, I sighed and presented my hand. Shaltear smiled delightfully and pricked my finger with the needle, releasing two drops of blood that immediately sent her into a shivering mess upon smelling it.
"..."
The droplets dropped on her tea, I saw how the colour of her tea changed from a dark orange into a shiny golden colour, and I was a bit surprised; it was the first time I've seen my blood mixed with something else, after all. With the same needle, she stirred it, taking her seat back on the chair and taking a long whiff at the result.
"Ahhh~" Shaltear Bloodfallen moaned at the mere scent and then took a slight sip.
!!!
"Absolutely wonderful~".
Her voice lost the humanoid hue, her body began to shiver and change as she struggled to keep her calm amidst the outbreak of a monster. For a second I saw her real self, the real monster Shaltear Bloodfallen is. But as if afraid that I would feel disgusted, she looked at me and reigned herself back in.
"This is the most delicious beverage I have ever sampled. A pity it has to come from the enemy, Osiris".
"You can call me Ray, Shaltear... that is my name".
"... If I were to address you as such, we would be one step closer... I would be one step away from Nazarick and my supreme beings".
"Shaltear..."
"It doesn't matter how tasty your blood is... I can't betray Nazarick for you," She said solemnly, taking another sip. I thought it was quite flamboyant of her to make such a claim while drinking a tea mixed with my blood. But I understood, the reason she can make such a lucid claim is because she has got just enough blood from me to keep her rationality.
"You being so kind... why did you do it?" She asked with a stern gaze.
"..."
"Why destroy Nazarick, my home?" she bit her lips and clenched her teacup. I guess this is what all of them wanted to ask me at some point. In her case, it was a conflict of internal emotions. The love for the delicious blood, the hate towards the owner.
"I had no bad intentions against you lot. But I needed points, I saw a chance and took it, that's all... your hostility was my reason to act" I confessed.
"P-Points? What do you mean? That was our home! At least tell me you regret–".
"I am sorry, Shaltear. But I don't regret it one bit. Thanks to that, I have my mom and my wife back by my side. That was the purpose I came to this world for. I am stronger, too, and capable of better protecting my people. So no matter what, I won't say I regret it"
I returned a gaze just a stern (if not more) to her to accentuate that it didn't matter how much she tried to swindle and puzzle her mind into thinking I was a good person; the truth is: I did what I did, it couldn't be taken back and I would never take it back.
Even if that makes us enemies. She clenched her fangs, a dark aura loomed, not aimed at me, but at herself.
Hating her inability to hate me.
Because... who would ever hate something delicious?