Feeling downcast, Sylvie once again wrapped herself in her heavy black cloak as she descended the stairs.
Her expression carried a hint of sadness and grievance. In the end, she could only let out a helpless sigh.
“Sigh… I messed up.”
“Really… We were talking just fine, so why did she suddenly turn cold again?” Sylvie muttered grudgingly.
This was… one of the rare times she had laid bare her most genuine thoughts and sincerest feelings without reservation, only to receive such an indifferent response.
By the way…
When was the last time she had removed her mask like this and poured out her inner emotions to someone?
And… to whom?
Sylvie… couldn’t remember.
Her brows furrowed tightly. She felt an inexplicable blockage in her heart, as if she had forgotten something important.
“Whatever.”
She shook her head vigorously, flinging away those disturbing thoughts. Then, she looked up at the moon’s position.
“It’s time to go see Nia and the others.”
…
Food was the most essential substance for sustaining life.
Even arrogant vampires—proud progenitors—needed to regularly draw blood in measured amounts to maintain their immense power and prevent their sanity from crumbling under hunger.
Not to mention fragile humans.
In the blood livestock penned district, obtaining food was far from easy.
Though the vampires distributed monthly rations to all blood livestock, those portions alone were nowhere near enough to meet a full month’s needs.
For the underfed blood livestock to acquire more grain, they had to “trade” something of their own.
And what they traded with…
Sylvie slowly reached out, unconsciously touching the two frightening fang marks on her neck.
It was, of course, their “capital” as blood livestock…
But vampires never showed restraint when feeding. Once their fangs sank into neck flesh, they would not part until fully sated.
And there were always those frail blood livestock whose blood reserves and physical condition simply couldn’t satisfy the greedy vampires’ demands, making it especially difficult for them to earn enough to eat.
Such blood livestock generally faced only three outcomes.
Either they were treated as “disposable blood bags,” drained dry and turned into reserve rations for enforcers; or sent to the front lines of human-vampire clashes as laborers; or simply killed and thrown out of Eternal Night City.
These cruel methods of disposal were utterly normal in this frozen city reeking of death and fear.
…
Sylvie walked in silence, cloaked, navigating familiar paths through a corner of the eastern district. To her surprise, there seemed to be more vampire patrol enforcers than usual.
“Because of the recent blood livestock escape attempts…”
She thought this, not daring to linger, and turned into a dark, damp alley.
…
Reaching the deepest part of the alley and confirming no one followed, Sylvie finally relaxed. She gently pulled down her hood, revealing her weary face.
Facing the dark corner, she lowered her voice and called softly with a touch of tenderness.
“Lynla, Tila, big sister is here.”
After a brief silence, rustling sounds came from the corner.
Then, small heads cautiously peeked out from the stone houses on either side.
Most were around thirteen or fourteen, faces pale, bodies thin and weak. But the moment their eyes landed on Sylvie, they instantly lit up with longing.
Upon confirming it was her, that wariness was immediately replaced by pure joy.
“Sylvie big sister!”
“Sylvie big sister is here!”
“Big sister!”
The girls called her name in hushed yet excited voices, rushing out to surround her affectionately.
They reached out with skinny arms, hugging Sylvie tightly and burying their pale little faces in her cloak, drawing what rare warmth this cold city offered.
“Don’t keep rubbing like that. I’m all dirty.” Sylvie said helplessly, but her smile grew ever gentler.
“Sylvie big sister, hug~”
A pink-haired girl smiled cutely, standing on tiptoes with arms outstretched toward Sylvie.
Sylvie’s heart felt like it was melting. She bent down, gently lifting the little girl into her arms.
“Lynla seems a bit heavier. Have you been eating properly?” Sylvie nuzzled the girl’s soft hair with her cheek, her voice laced with amusement.
“Yes, yes!” Lynla nodded vigorously.
Seeing this, the other children opened their arms too, saying jealously,
“Me too, me too.”
“Sylvie big sister! Hug me!”
“Tia wants one too.”
The dim alley suddenly grew lively, the girls’ sweet, innocent calls seeming to dispel much of the night’s chill.
But their demands left Sylvie in a bind. Holding Lynla, she looked helplessly at the adorable little ones clamoring around her like hungry chicks, unsure what to do.
Just then, a gentle yet stern female voice rang out.
“You lot, clinging to Sylvie like that will trouble her!”
A blue-short-haired girl about Sylvie’s age walked over, hands on hips with a serious little face, immediately quieting the children somewhat.
“Really, how many times have I told you not to be so clingy?” She said helplessly, then turned apologetically to Sylvie.
“Sorry, little Shi. Lynla and the others get too excited every time they see you.”
“It’s fine, Nia. I’m overjoyed that these kids like me so much!”
Sylvie waved it off with a smile. In this moment of warmth, the mask she habitually wore to hide her emotions unconsciously slipped, revealing the gentle, kind nature beneath.
“Lynla, get down from big sister Sylvie now.”
At Nia’s words, Lynla not only refused to come down but hugged Sylvie’s neck tighter, planting a big, wet kiss on her cheek.
Then she turned to Nia, sticking out her tongue playfully and making a face.
“Bleh—Nia big sister is jealous!”
The other children joined in the teasing.
“Nia big sister’s face is red!”
“Nia big sister wants a hug from Sylvie big sister too!”
Called out like this, Nia’s cheeks indeed flushed faintly. She said, somewhat flustered,
“You mischievous little brats—tomorrow’s study time is doubled!”
“Ugh…”
That worked instantly. The children quieted down, blinking big eyes as they hid behind Sylvie, looking pitiful.
Sylvie’s heart warmed. She gently set Lynla down, tenderly straightening the girl’s messy pink hair.
Then she turned to Nia, pulling out the carefully wrapped food from her cloak.
She said softly,
“There’s a bit more bread than usual today. I saved it specially.”
Nia took the bundle, feeling its heavier-than-normal weight, her eyes filled with guilt.
“I’m sorry… for always troubling you like this.”
“I’m fine.” Sylvie interrupted, her voice carrying a gentle smile.
These children were all unqualified blood livestock—too weak to properly supply blood to vampires.
Their food rations were pitifully small, their survival precarious.
As Queen Klal’s exclusive blood servant, Sylvie faced her own hardships, but her monthly portions were still more than these children’s.
She always skimped on her own meals, risking discovery to regularly come here and share with these little ones teetering on the edge of survival.
This was Sylvie’s… second secret.
And the only place in this frozen city where she could feel warmth.
“Hurry inside everyone. It’s cold and dangerous out here. We’ll eat in the room.” Nia urged.
The children didn’t hesitate, all scurrying into the stone house on one side of the alley.
…
The crude stone house had only a living room with a long stone table, candle lamps hanging on the walls, and further in—a large bed big enough for ten children to lie on.
After Sylvie and Nia distributed the bread, the children sat obediently at the table, eating with happy smiles.
Candlelight flickered, illuminating the children’s pale yet satisfied little faces—and Sylvie’s gentle gaze.
Watching these children who retained their innocence amid despair filled her heart with both warmth and sorrow.
Sylvie handed the last piece of bread to a particularly tiny girl, then walked to Nia’s side and said softly,
“Let’s talk inside.”
The two entered the room and sat on the bed. Sylvie’s smile gradually faded, replaced by deep worry.
“Nia, have you heard lately… In the eastern district, many children around Lynla’s age tried to escape. They were caught by the vampires, and patrols are getting stricter.”
Nia’s face was etched with worry and grief.
She nodded.
“Yes… Just a few days ago, I saw them. They were like us—a ‘family’ of many same-aged blood livestock.”
She said this, unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
“The oldest sister in that home was Misha, only sixteen… She came to me, asking if we wanted to go together…”
Nia’s voice cut off, but Sylvie understood.
“And then?” Sylvie asked softly.
“I refused. I said our children here are too small—they couldn’t run far. But Misha and the others… they said they’d rather die trying to escape than wait here to die slowly.”
“Just the night before last, they tried crawling out through the eastern wall’s drainage outlet, but… they were discovered by a patrol.”
“Misha, and those children…”
Nia’s voice paused for a long moment before trembling out the words.
“They were all executed on the spot.”
Man, anything but a little girl…