Codename Vestia

Chapter 11: Joonie

“What are you?”

Doyeong asked sharply. Gamal, who had just caught her breath but still looked pale from shock, replied.

“I like it here.”

“Don’t lie. If you were just trying to hide the fact that you live here, you wouldn’t have been so startled by the plane.”

At his remark, Gamal fell silent.

“Yeah, you probably have no intention of telling me anyway.”

Doyeong was beginning to grow tired of the situation, so he spoke and stood up. Holding onto a tree, he managed to get up quite easily.

“So…”

Gamal, who was trying to follow him up, suddenly stumbled and fell. Doyeong paused and sighed before going back to her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

She forced a smile, but her face was so pale it seemed almost icy. Doyeong furrowed his brow.

“That’s not ‘nothing.'”

After hesitating, Gamal finally admitted.

“Everything is spinning…”

“Dizzy?”

Gamal nodded slightly.

“Sit here.”

Doyeong helped Gamal sit under the shade of a tree. She then leaned her head back, resting it against the tree trunk.

Her already pale skin looked even more washed out, almost blue. It wasn’t just because she was startled. Doyeong thought he had a clue about why she was feeling this way.

“It’s because of the flowers, isn’t it?”

With her eyes closed, Gamal nodded.

Of course. Eating the flowers raw had little effect. They could help with thirst to some extent, but it was only when the flowers were processed into Flos that they became a viable substitute for blood.

“I kept eating the flowers, a lot. But I still get dizzy sometimes.”

Gamal slowly opened her eyes. A chilling glint flickered in her irises, making the lines within them appear more pronounced. Once again, Doyeong felt that sensation.

Like staring into a snake’s eyes, sending a shiver down his spine, freezing him in place.

“Blood is delicious.”

Gamal said softly, staring directly at Doyeong without blinking.

“But when I drink it, my heart starts pounding.”

She pressed down on her chest firmly.

“Blood…”

She murmured the word as if it brought back something she had forgotten, and then stared intently at Doyeong’s neck. More precisely, at the veins through which blood pulsed.

Doyeong did not move. He knew that any sudden movement might provoke an attack. Tension spread all the way to his fingertips.

Suddenly, Gamal managed to shake off the impulse and turned her head away, blinking as if realizing what she had just done.

“Oh…”

Doyeong propped himself up with his crutch and stood.

“Just rest for a while.”

Then, leaving Gamal, who was trying to get up hesitantly, he turned and walked away. When he glanced back, she was watching him with a lost expression, not sure what to do.

Her pale face looked especially pitiful.

“Major, eat this.”

Gamal offered a roasted taro. Doyeong, who had been eating for a while, looked up.

“I’m fine.”

Gamal shook her head.

“No, Major, you eat it. I’m full.”

“What are you talking about? I know you could eat an entire cow in one sitting if left alone. Just eat it.”

Doyeong spoke curtly, like a strict husband, and continued his meal. Gamal hesitated for a moment, then put the taro into her mouth.

Or rather, she was about to, when Doyeong held out his bowl and said,

“Give it here.”

Gamal quickly placed the roasted taro into his bowl. Doyeong glanced at the taro and murmured,

“Never thought a day would come when taro would taste good.”

He then casually popped the whole taro into his mouth and chewed.

After finishing the meal, he tidied up and said,

“Let’s head inside now.”

“Okay. Want some help?”

Gamal asked eagerly. Doyeong looked at her for a moment before replying,

“Sure.”

Gamal supported him as they walked. By now, Doyeong was used to wrapping his arm around her shoulder as he got up.

Gamal seemed to pour all her effort into supporting him, as if she were handling a nuclear centrifuge, even though it was just helping him walk.

It was clear she was still bothered by what had happened earlier that day. Doyeong observed her quietly, unsure whether to call her kind or naive for a vampire, and muttered,

“Strange girl.”

“Hmm?”

Gamal looked up at him, confused.

“Nothing.”

They entered the log cabin and lay down.

“Go to sleep.”

“Major.”

Hearing Gamal call him softly, Doyeong turned around. She seemed like she wanted to say something, but then swallowed her words and simply said,

“Goodnight.”

“You too.”

Doyeong replied and turned back over. He then added,

“Don’t worry too much. I’m not bothered by it, either.”

Even though the sentence lacked a subject, Gamal seemed to understand. She stared at his back for a moment before whispering,

“Thank you.”

Doyeong fell asleep. After a while, he woke up slightly, feeling the now-familiar warmth behind him. It seemed Gamal had once again snuggled up against his back.

‘Why would someone who feels this lonely want to live alone?’

Doyeong thought drowsily. But then, a small hand slowly crept over his side. He instantly snapped awake.

‘What is this sneaky girl doing?’

Doyeong was incredulous. How close had they gotten that she was now touching him while he was sleeping?

Sssss….

The hand glided down his chest to his abdomen. Doyeong flinched. It was a rather bold touch.

He couldn’t believe it. That he’d actually find it pleasant to be touched by someone like Gamal…

He was just about to speak up, thinking this had gone too far.

“Major.”

Gamal’s soft voice called out, as if she had noticed he was awake. She then murmured quietly,

“You smell delicious, Major…”

A chill ran down his spine. From Gamal, whose face he couldn’t see, a murderous intent radiated.

It felt like a tiger was embracing him. He wanted to shake himself free and get up, but her arms were tightly wrapped around him, making it impossible to escape.

Suddenly, Gamal sprang up. It seemed she had come to her senses. Only then did Doyeong manage to turn around and see that her face was pale, but for a different reason.

“S-sorry.”

Without giving him a chance to react, Gamal bolted out of the room.

“Gamal!”

Doyeong called out, but she was already gone, disappearing beyond the wide-open door.

***

Gamal did not return that night.

Doyeong got up with his crutch and went outside. The sun-drenched clearing was quiet, and Gamal was nowhere to be seen. Without her help, there was no way for him to go far on his leg.

So he sat by the beach, reading one of the books left in the log cabin, but even by midday, there was still no sign of her.

At some point, Doyeong lifted his gaze from the book. The emerald waters gently lapped at the shore, like a scene straight out of a travel agency ad promising a perfect vacation.

“Gamal.”

He suddenly spoke.

“I’m hungry.”

For a moment, there was a rustle in the bushes. After a short while, Gamal emerged, looking like someone who had just committed a grave crime.

Even without the heightened senses of someone like Luas, it was hard not to notice the feeling of a watchful, dark presence lurking just beyond the bushes.

Doyeong gestured with his head to the spot next to him.

“Sit.”

Gamal hesitated but eventually sat down beside him. Doyeong spoke with a calm, matter-of-fact tone.

“There’s no need for that look. It’s your nature, so there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Gamal’s eyes widened as if the words had hit her.

“You’re the first person… to ever say that to me.”

“I’m used to vampires.”

By now, he had moved past seeing vampires with preconceived notions.

Doyeong had long accepted that just as dogs eat dog food and cats eat cat food, vampires need to eat what vampires eat.

Legally, feeding on blood was prohibited, but he had no particular feelings about the fact that vampires needed blood. It was just a part of their existence.

Gamal’s eyes had dark circles beneath them.

She must not have slept well last night, but it wasn’t just that. A vampire losing sleep for a night wouldn’t look like this; it meant that the flowers weren’t providing enough nourishment. Even as it was, she was already so thin that it was starting to look unpleasant, like someone with severe dietary issues.

Doyeong asked,

“The flowers aren’t enough, are they?”

“No, I…,” she began.

“It’s just a simple question.”

Because Doyeong’s tone was so calm, Gamal eventually gave a slight nod.

“When it gets really tough, I drink animal blood. But it smells bad….”

So, she didn’t mention that she could just drink Flos outside the island. After all, Gamal wanted to stay on this island, and even though she knew she could sustain herself with Flos, she was enduring the repulsive animal blood. Bringing it up would be meaningless.

Doyeong watched her for a while before asking,

“Do you want to drink blood?”

Gamal couldn’t bring herself to answer.

“I want to eat meat.”

Doyeong suddenly said, making Gamal’s eyes widen.

“Huh?”

When Doyeong didn’t respond, Gamal hesitantly pointed behind her.

“Uh… do you want me to catch some?”

There was something charming about a girl asking if she should catch meat because he said he wanted some, and Doyeong smirked.

“Wanting to eat meat is just natural. It’s what my body craves.”

Only then did Gamal understand why he was saying this.

“But I don’t want to drink from you, Major. You’re my friend.”

A hint of moisture glistened in her red eyes. Gamal bit her lips, trying to hold back tears.

“But sometimes I still want to drink. I hate that.”

“Because you need it.”

Doyeong said quietly.

Gamal remained silent, unable to respond. Then, just as she was about to speak,

“No, I…”

Doyeong raised a hand.

“I’m not telling you to drink as much as you want. Just get enough nutrients to stay alive. My leg’s in this condition, and if you die, I’ll be in trouble too.”

“But… aren’t you scared? What if I can’t stop myself…?”

Doyeong shrugged.

“If you overdo it, I’ll just hit you on the head with a rock.”

It wasn’t exactly the kind of thing one would expect to receive thanks for, but Gamal, still incredulous at a human offering his blood, mumbled,

“Thank you.”

“We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Though his tone was gruff, Gamal realized that Doyeong also considered her a friend.

‘My chest feels strange.’

It felt like a tiny person was running wild inside her heart, jumping around and making a fuss.

“Just promise me one thing. You won’t drink blood without my permission. Ever.”

Gamal shook her head vigorously.

“Never.”

Then, Doyeong pointed behind her.

“Bring that over.”

“That?”

Gamal turned around. Doyeong was pointing at a fist-sized rock lying on the sand.

“The rock?”

“I said I’d hit you with it if you lost control.”

“Oh, right.”

Gamal nodded as if it was the most natural thing and got up to retrieve the rock Doyeong had pointed at. She sat back down, holding it, and after a moment of awkward silence, she carefully asked,

“So…?”

“Yeah.”

Doyeong nodded nonchalantly.

Gamal slowly crawled closer to Doyeong.