^^ Nyx

A wave of pure mana washes over me. Nyx must be leaking out his mana again!

Everyone else seems fine so it must just be contained to a small space around him. I feel like a wave of uncomfortable heat is surrounding me.

I struggle to breathe, but force myself to, even though it makes the heat and pressure around me increase. It's fine, since I'm healing from the adverse effects of taking the mana in.

Weirdly Casein is unaffected by the mana leak. Is it because he has high mana himself?

"You think you can beat me?" asks Casein still gripping my wrist tightly.

"Undoubtedly," replies Nyx. Demon wings appear on his back and a flame blossoms from one of his hands.

In the blink of an eye, Nyx's hand is wrapped around Casein's throat.

He tightens his grip around Casein's throat, "Let her go," he growls.

Casein releases my hand and throws his hands up in mock surrender, smirking. Nyx releases Casein, and I can see red marks around his neck from where Nyx was gripping him.

"If I ever see you harassing Eve again, I will kill you, regardless of whatever your status is," threatens Nyx, pure hatred in his eyes, "Now get out of my sight, before I change my mind and decide to kill you right here."

Casein scurries away, leaving the ballroom in a rush. I hadn't noticed a crowd forming, but many of nobles are muttering to each other about what just happened and staring at us.

I let out a sigh of relief as the oppressing mana goes away, even though I suddenly feel very weak. It must have done more damage than I thought, and it took too much energy to heal. I think I need to drink some blood to recharge.

A servant steps into the ballroom and announces, "NOW ENTERING, THE ROYAL FAMILY OF THE AMARIA EMPIRE! HIS MAJESTY, KING EDWARD THE VI, HER MAJESTY, QUEEN VICTORIA, HIS HIGHNESS, CROWN PRINCE JACKSON, AND HIS HIGHNESS, PRINCE THEODORE!"

The royal family enters the ballroom. The king has a large golden crown on his head and grayish-brown hair. Next to him is the queen who seems about ten years younger than king. She has light brown hair and green eyes the color of jade.

Holding her hand is a young boy that looks just like her with the same light brown hair, except instead of green eyes, he has blue eyes. He must be Theodore, one of capture targets in the game.

Holding the king's hand is the crown prince who I earlier met, except this time he is dressed in a blue suit that must have cost a fortune.

He smiles at his father who says something I can't hear to him. For some reason the whole thing pisses me off.

I feel a weird jealousy rising up in me for some reason. I mean why the hell can't I ever get what he has?

In my past life, I was poor, malnourished, and abused by my trash of a father. In this life, I'm still beaten by my mother at the smallest disappointment and treated as a tool to get more power by my father.

The prince has a loving family and probably has never had to worry about being able to afford food ever in his life. And yet he has the audacity to pretend like he does, dressing up as a beggar to test me? What gives him the right?

Ugh, I'm probably just a little crazy right now because I need blood. I should get out of here now.

I'm about to leave the ballroom, when someone blocks my path.

It's the crown prince himself.

"May I have this dance?" he asks. My mother is staring daggers at me.

"It would be an honor," I reply. He takes my hand and leads me to the dance floor.

"I wanted to apologize for what I did earlier. It was stupid. I think I was influenced by the rumors about you too much, which is hypocritical since I've always hated the rumors nobles have about me," he says, "Anyway, I'm sorry. I should've have made an effort to get to know you instead of doubting your goodness because of rumors, which is why I did that dumb test. Honestly, I'm just freaking out because my parents are trying to get me engaged to someone, and it will probably be you."

I'm starting to feel really dizzy, and this dancing isn't helping. When was the last time I drank blood?

I think I had some last night. I can usually go two days without blood just fine, but I must be drained because of all the healing I had to do when Nyx leaked out his mana.

After this dance I need to get out of here. I can't go feral in the middle of a ball.

What was the prince saying again? Something about an engagement?

He must not know about the secret engagement I have to f*cking Hal. That's good.

I feel a little bad though since he's apologizing to me when the rumors are probably true. I am a villainess.

"You don't have to apologize. I'm not a good person. Sometimes I really wish I was, but I'm not," I tell him. Somewhere in my mind, it's telling me that I shouldn't be saying all this stuff, but my mind is too fuzzy right now that I'm just saying whatever is coming to my mind. I continue, pulling him in closer, "You should get engaged to someone better. You'll be happier."

I laugh pulling away, "That's probably an example of why I'm not a good person. It's an incredibly selfish thing to do, right? I'm supposed to be willing to make the sacrifice. It would be the right thing to do, and yet I can't help but be selfish," I say.

He looks very conflicted right now for some reason.

"Well would it be that much of a sacrifice if you were to fall in love with the person you were forced to be engaged to?" he asks.

"If you're talking about me and you, it's impossible. You value goodness the most, and that I can never fulfill," I answer. I can hear his heart beating, and suddenly a violent image of me biting into his neck flashes in my mind.

Oh god, I need to get out of here now.

"I think you're a better person than you think you are," he replies. His blue eyes stare into my eyes, and he glances down at my lips. He starts leaning forward.

Crap! Are my fangs poking out right now?!?!

I pull away, "I have to go right now."

I start hurrying out of there but turn around, "Thanks for the dance... and I'm sorry," I say.

I leave him there speechless, and try to find Nyx or Finn or even my parents. I have to get out here. I feel like the room is spinning, and everything smells like blood.

Finally I spot Nyx, and rush toward him.

"Are you okay? You're really pale right now," he asks.

I clutch onto his suit for support, "I need... I need blood," I pant out.

His eyes darken in understanding, and he quickly leads me out of the ballroom, letting me lean on him for support.

We go in some empty room that seems to be a dining room of sorts. He takes off his suit jacket and starts unbuttoning the collar of his shirt.

"What... what are you doing?" I say weakly. I bring my hand up to my lips as I realize my fangs have come out. Any minute and I'll be completely driven by bloodlust, probably not even aware of what I'll be doing.

"Drink my blood," he responds.

"I can't do that to you. I need to get out of here," I reply. I try to rush out, but stumble. I can feel the bloodlust taking over. I sink to the ground, and bury my head in hands.

"You need to get out of here right now! I'm barely keeping it together!" I shout.

He takes my hands off my face, and stares deeply into my eyes, "It's okay, just drink my blood. Let me do this for you," he pleads.

He tugs at his collar, exposing his pale neck. I can almost hear the blood flowing through his veins.

"Alright... but you have to promise me you'll stop me if I go too far," I tell him.

"Of course," he says.

I lean forward, and he closes his eyes. I bite into his neck, and he winces in pain. I release some of my venom from my fangs which is essentially a drug that should take the pain away.

His eyes dilate to the point I can barely see any red of his irises, and his cheeks flush red. He must be feeling the effects of my venom.

I keep drinking, now that I know he's okay.

His blood is the sweetest I've every tasted. It's intoxicating.

Everything feels brighter and more colorful. It's as if his blood is liquid happiness.

I want to drink more but I pull away, licking the last few drops from his wound.

My mind feels very foggy, but at the same time energized and so happy. I'm definitely intoxicated on his blood, and he seems to be from my venom.

Nyx pins me under him, his eyes clouded. I giggle since I feel like I can see two of him.

He leans forward, staring into my eyes, and I think he's about to kiss me or something.

I laugh, like it's the funniest thing in the world, because I feel like the room is spinning in a blur of bright lights, except for Nyx who feels like my only tether right now.

I smile, "Dance with me Nyx. I've danced with so many people I didn't want to, and not once with someone I actually wanted dance with," I say.

"How could I refuse," he says in almost a whisper, and helps me get up.

We can still hear the faint sound of the soft music from ballroom. We sway slowly to the music, with my arms wrapped around his neck and his around my waist.

"You know I'd do anything for you right?" he says quietly.

I look up at him in surprise, "Nobody has ever said something like that for me before," I rest my head on his shoulder, "You know, you're probably the first real friend I've ever had."

I look back at him, gazing into his eyes. He leans forward and softly places his lips on mine. He pulls me closer, and hungrily kisses me.

And I don't know if it's because I'm drunk on blood or something else but I kiss him back.