Life and death are two sides of the same coin and one can’t exist without the other. However, in some special cases, the coin my land in the middle and both mix up in strange ways. Entities that can’t be considered living and yet they are animate enough to not be considered dead. These creatures have existed ever since the beginning of life and death. And some believe it is the product of the love between these two opposite entities.

-Excerpt of Austin Reinheart’s Study of life, death and everything in between.

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Lilith’s Pov

It has been two years since my parent’s death, or at least that’s what I think. I have lost count of the days a long time ago. I have already made peace with the fact that mom and dad are dead, it is useless to deny it anymore but it still hurts. At least I have a new family now and we have been living peacefully in this forest. Shadow, of course, is part of this new family. Alongside him now there is Silver and Sapphire!

It happened not long after my encounter with Shadow. I began wondering about my abilities as a vampire and ran a few tests. For starters, I far stronger compared to before, being able to jump really high in the air as well as punch hard as well. I can see in the night as clear as day but now the daylight is bothersome. My skin becomes itchy when the sun hits it and the light makes my eyes hurt.

I also discovered that if I drink the blood of something and don’t kill it, it will become a thrall. However, Shadow was enough for me so I killed the new thrall soon after it was born. It didn’t resist my actions and even looked happy to die by my hands. I have also notice that I am very calm when killing. I don’t know if this is normal but I don’t think so, maybe it has something to do with the fact I am a vampire now.

Right, Silver and Sapphire. I met silver a month after I met Shadow. At that time, I and Shadow had just finished hunting and eating. Suddenly my nostrils were assaulted by the smell of blood and despite feeling satisfied with my meal a bit more would do no harm. Because of this, I followed the sent and that’s when we found Silver. The poor thing was really hurt with cuts all over its body. The blood flowed out of the wounds and into the flowing water of the river he was in.

Back then Silver eyes were a beautiful sky blue, they reminded me of my own eyes before I became a vampire. He looked at us with a tired expression and didn’t resist our approach. By the way, I later came to know that shadow is a girl. Anyway, I felt sad for silver so I decided to save him on a whim. I drank a bit of his blood and left him there before leaving.

Not long after, a day or two, Silver appeared at the cave me and Shadow were staying at. His blue eyes had become vermillion coloured just like Shadow’s and all its wounds were gone. I had left Silver in the river back then because I wanted him to live freely. However, it seems like silver had tracked us back to our cave with the intention to join us. I didn’t know if Silver could understand what I was saying or not but I tried to convince him to leave and be free.

In the end, I grew attached to Silver as he lived with us despite me trying to let him go. Three days later I named him Silver. Silver’s normal size is the same as Shadow’s, maybe a bit larger, his fur is greyish-white with a metallic shine to it. I know the name silver might not be creative but I like it and it fits him well. Also, just how shadow went through changes when I named her Silver went through the same changes. Silver became a small dog a bit bigger than and just as cute.

Three months after Silver joined my family we met Sapphire. I and Sapphire were enemies at the beginning. Sapphire is a large bird with beautiful blue and black wings with a massive size as well. Her wings are large enough to reach Shadow’s tail and head at the same time and her talons are sharp enough to cut trees in half. Shadow’s and Silver’s fangs and claws can also do that but it is still impressive.

Anyway, I met Sapphire when she stole a pray from us. After that, she continued to do so from time to time for a month until we had enough. Then we hunted her down and we killed her or at least that was the plan. Sapphire struggled a lot and her gaze was always defiant even when we were drinking her blood. Because of this, I decided to turn her to teach her a lesson. However, after she turned she became very affectionate and lovely. I couldn’t bring myself to kill her and so she joined the family.

I am glad I turned Sapphire instead of killing her. She has been very helpful in our hunts and our hunting efficiency has risen a lot. Not to mention that flying on her back is the best! Not that I dislike riding Shadow or Silver but flying through the sky is awesome. When I named Sapphire she also transformed when I named her and her green eyes became vermillion too when she turned. I think all those I turn will have their eye colour turn to vermillion.

She became an adorable bluebird small enough to rest on my head which became her favourite spot to nap. Her singing is beautiful too and I enjoy it very much. Thanks to these three I don’t have to worry about being lonely and the days are fun as we play and hunt together. I still hate humans but I don’t feel like going out of my way to hunt them down anymore.

We have been living in a cave near the river and through these two years, I have learned a few things. For example, I know how to sew now! I may not be as good as mom but it’s enough to make simple clothing from the furs of the beasts we hunt. We also have a bunch of pelts to use as a comfy bed. Even though we don’t need to eat anything else but blood we can still eat and doing so satiates our hunger a little. Because of that, I have learned how to make a fire and roast meat with some seasoning of herbs that can be found in the forest.

I have also grown a bit taller and wonder if I will grow to be like mom. She was really pretty and from what father said he was afraid I would be like her and attract a lot of attention from boys. I do hope to grow to be as pretty as mommy though, that would make me very happy.

As we walked through the forest after a hunt I heard the sound of fighting from afar. Shadow and the others were in their small for at the moment and I asked them to keep it that way as we went to investigate. As we approached I began hearing shouts as well as roars more clearly. In these last two years, I hadn’t met anyone that wasn’t a monster and so my interest was peaked.

“Damn it Stan hold it for a bit longer!”

“You are crazy Evangeline, I can’t! Argh!”

“Quickly, Mia heal stan!”

Looking through the bushed I could see three people fighting against a bear looking beast. The beast had long brown fur with eight eyes on its head and fangs that resembled those of a spider. Its legs were those of a bear, thick and powerful capable of crushing rocks. On its back, two long things that looked like spider legs were being used as weapons.

The group of three were having a hard time keeping it back as the guy with a shield, presumably, Stan had been badly injured just now. One of the girls was Evangeline which I guess is the leader, she is holding a bow in hand and her quiver is almost empty. The last one is also a girl, Mia is holding a wooden stave and from the looks of it, she is a mage. Thankfully, none of them is human or I would have jumped to kill them all in an instant.

Both stan and Evangeline are beast-kin and Mia is an elf. I wonder what to do, they have nothing to do with me and to tell the truth I don’t feel like helping them. My hatred may be directed at humans but I know that if humans weren’t the ones killing my parents, it could have been any of the other seven races. Not to mention that I don’t know what will they do after. They might even attack me!

I kept watching as the three were being trashed by the beast. From what I have seen so far they have no chance of winning, and now that they are all tired and hurt I don’t think they can escape either. Finally, the climax of the fight was approaching, Stan messed up and was heavily injured. Evangeline tried to distract the beast but she was exhausted and couldn’t dodge the incoming attack. Mia was the last one standing but she wasn’t moving due to fear.

I didn’t want to help, I really didn’t but they weren’t the ones that wronged me. I decided to provide aid at that moment and jumped out of my hiding spot standing in between Mia and the beast.

“A kid!? Run!”

I paid no attention to Evangeline’s scream as I stoped the beast’s lance-like extremity with my bare hand before breaking it. I had ordered my family to stay put and not interfere unless absolutely necessary. They were still hiding in the bush watching everything unfold as I mercilessly stabbed the beast with its own claw.

“You… alright?”

I hadn’t realized until now but it seems I have forgotten how to talk even though I can still understand the language. This will be bothersome.