Silver Cross Dream

Two Souls: Night Charm

The neon lights flickered along the streets as I stared blankly at the large hand holding mine. His hand was as beautiful and slender as Cass's, but while Cass's hand was warm, his felt as cold as mine.

I bumped into his back and looked up in confusion, only to see that he had already stopped.

"This is it," he said, turning back to me with a cheerful smile.

I turned to look; it was a bar, no different from the others in the city, with two alluring words outlined in flashing neon: Night Charm.

Lot pulled me inside.

“With the arrival of the dark night, the surging melody lingers in the ancient solitude… a feast of blood, the magic of the demon, reveling in this city…” The dim, enchanting lights filled the space with swirling smoke. I widened my eyes in curiosity, glancing at the figure on the elevated stage playing guitar. The lights didn’t shine on him, so I couldn’t see his face. His hoarse and strange voice flowed like music that resonated in my ears.

“Sorry, minors aren’t allowed inside,” a waiter in white approached us politely, pointing at a sign by the door.

Lot followed his gaze to the entrance and then laughed, his beautiful peach blossom eyes narrowing with mischief as he looked at me.

Minors? I instinctively lowered my head to check my figure, feeling a surge of anger. Do I really look that young?!

Lot chuckled softly, his long arm pulling me into his embrace. “She’s of age,” he murmured, his icy lips brushing my neck, making his statement sound ambiguous.

“Identification?” the waiter pressed, unfazed.

I wilted. Didn’t I mention that I didn’t even have a birth certificate?

“Ah!” Lot suddenly exaggeratedly waved at the figure on the elevated stage.

I was dumbfounded, looking incredulously at Lot’s shameless antics. I thought he might at least cast some kind of hypnosis; isn’t he boasting about his high rank? Is this how a vampire over six hundred years old behaves?

What a letdown…

“I’m a friend! A friend of his!” Ignoring my jaw-dropping expression, Lot excitedly tried to barge in.

“Are you talking about Lord Mowen?” The waiter looked bewildered, then gazed at the figure on the stage with admiration.

“Years of time, never a moment of longing, love has never gone far…” The voice continued to sing, seemingly imbued with some strange magic.

“Mowen! Mowen! It’s Lot!” Lot waved his hand more dramatically.

The figure momentarily paused, the song stopping abruptly, and then he moved, stepping out of the shadows.

In a dark red high-collared coat, a seductive man descended from the stage. His pale face, wavy burgundy hair, slanted phoenix eyes, and full lips exuded a bewitching allure.

He waved his hand, and the entranced waiter walked away.

I froze. Isn’t he the man who read my fortune at the Sweet Candy House that day?

“Lot, you’re still alive!” Lot threw himself at Mowen excitedly, “It’s been four hundred years… I thought you died four hundred years ago.”

Four hundred years?

He’s a vampire too?

I gazed at him in disbelief.

Mowen didn’t bat an eye as he shoved Lot aside, his beautiful eyes glancing at me. “When did you change your taste?”

Lot laughed heartily, disregarding my protests as he pulled me into his arms. “She’s my creation.”

“You?” Mowen raised an eyebrow, “I remember you said four hundred years ago that you would never create a bloodline again.”

“I love her…” Lot looked at me, his expression full of longing.

I was instantly petrified, glaring at Lot. “Don’t say nonsense!”

“It seems this lady isn’t feeling our charming Casanova,” Mowen chuckled, his beauty resembling a blooming rose.

“Xiao Xiao…” Lot gently caressed my cheek, his handsome yet pale face filled with restrained sorrow. “Please don’t hate me. I know you long for the light, but I love you, I love you… Please forgive me for dragging you into eternal darkness because… I can’t bear to watch you grow old day by day. I can’t stand the thought of you leaving me one day. I don’t want to endure endless solitude alone anymore… I… love you, so even if you hate me… I want to keep you by my side, forever…”

I stared wide-eyed at his azure gaze. What was he doing? Acting? This is quite the performance.

A vampire falling for a human, willing to do anything for love, even risking the hatred of the one he loves to turn her into his kin, to live together forever… What a touching story.

But the corners of my mouth began to twitch. I was bitten in a baffling situation…

“Then congratulations on finally being together,” Mowen said, taking a blood-colored liquid from a nearby waiter, his smile enchanting.

“Thank you,” Lot said, his expression moved, stretching his arms for another grateful hug.

Mowen smiled but deftly sidestepped, leaving Lot to miss his embrace.

Lot looked forlorn as he gazed at Mowen. “After four hundred years, you’ve become so cold…”

“Good to see you,” Mowen raised a hand to sip from the clear wine glass, glancing at me, who was still frozen. “Hello, I’m Mowen.”

“Hello, I’m Dongfang Xiao.” Coming back to my senses, I reached out to shake Mowen’s equally cold hand.

I realized… he didn’t remember me at all.

Or perhaps he pretended not to remember?

“Would you like a drink?” he asked, shaking the glass in his hand.

Watching the blood-red liquid sway, I instinctively licked my lips. I hadn’t eaten in three days.

“It’s wine,” Mowen seemed to see through my thoughts and smiled. “I mixed it; it’s called ‘Fire Burn.’ Would you like to try?”

I nodded, taking a glass of the same liquid as Mowen and following him to the bar.

After a sip, I was slightly stunned; it felt like a fire was igniting in my chest, a burning sensation.

“Does it feel hot?” Mowen looked at me, his long eyelashes fluttering in the dim light, and then smiled, a dazzling smile that made it hard to look away.

“Yeah, it’s… a bit painful,” I said, holding my chest.

“Yes, it will hurt,” Mowen’s voice seemed distant.

“Can I have another drink?” I asked.

Mowen turned his head, looking at me with narrowed eyes. His long eyelashes appeared dreamy in the dim light. Then he smiled, that alluring smile making it hard to look away. “Of course.”

I lowered my head, holding the glass, quietly drinking.

It was my first time drinking, and the alcohol was strong, but it felt special.

“Few who try it will order a second,” Mowen remarked, observing me.

“I really like this feeling,” I said, looking at the enchanting man before me, “the pain of my heart being burned.”

Mowen paused, staring at me as if looking through me to another person. After a moment, he leaned closer, his hands gently touching my face, his beautiful eyes gradually filled with joy. “What did you just say? Can you say it again?”

Seeing this enchanting man in front of me, I instinctively shrank back, trying to escape his hands but failing.

“Don’t tease my Xiao Xiao,” Lot suddenly appeared from the crowd of women, gently pulling me away from Mowen. He then turned back to me, smiling. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

I raised an eyebrow, looking at Lot’s neck adorned with a red lip mark with a strange expression.

“Sorry, long ago someone said the same thing, and I waited for him for a long time,” Mowen said, ignoring Lot, his tone casual.

“Stop pretending and acting all moody. You actually…,” Lot couldn't accept it, “You actually want to steal my Xiaoxiao! You're the most sinister guy!” He exaggeratedly turned back to me and said, “Xiaoxiao, don’t be fooled—this guy likes men…”

Mo Wen smiled slightly.