Ascendant Path of a Lustful Vampire Chapter 624: The only way to travel (2)

Caius looked over at Philip who was making a point to keep staring ahead but it was clear he was paying attention. For the first time since he had ever met Philip, Caius actually developed a smidge of compassion for him.

Even if Athenodora’s life hadn’t been completely described in the original canon, there were still enough snippets for Caius to know she was a natural-born vampire belonging to some illustrious vampiric clan. If that clan still stood was a wonder but Athenodora was definitely someone of status. Her blood held power and authority that very few vampire nobles could ever hope to attain.

In other words, Athenodora was never Philip’s equal. And by the way she had described their meeting, Caius couldn’t help but think Philip had been her plaything— Something to entertain herself with.

"That was still a great risk to take," Caius couldn’t help but say.

"Eh, what’s life without risks?" Athenodora waved nonchalantly, "Besides, Philip would never claim he disliked my company. Would you, Philip?"

Philip just granted.

But Caius paid attention. Past the seemingly disinterested grunt, he found something— something he had suspected for a while but was certain of now.

"Of course he wouldn’t," Caius said, "He was—is—in love with you."

Philip jerked the steering as he turned his head so he could glance at Caius and growl.

"Shut your mouth, peasant," he said with angry red eyes.

"I dare say I’m more Noble than you," Caius smiled, all the compassion he felt for Philip was replaced with amusement,

"Also, reacting like that only gives you away. Not that it matters. Athenodora clearly already knew how you felt."

Athenodora smiled.

"Can you blame him? I’m irresistible," she said.

"But he never got anywhere with you, did he?" Caius said, ignoring her self-praise even though he agreed.

"Do you want to hear me tell the story of my childhood or not?" Athenodora asked with a chuckle.

"He never had the courage to tell you how he felt, did he?" Caius smirked, "The fucking coward."

"Watch your filthy mouth...!" Philip snarled. Though this time he kept the Sky-Carriage stable.

"Of course, he told me," Athenodora said.

"Ah, you mind. You let him down ’easy’ then," Caius said.

Athenodora shrugged.

"I had grown fond of Philip by then. The challenge was over; I had gotten him to let loose a little and be less dogmatic. He had managed not to get killed, proved himself the best of the rest, and was turned.

He was one of the few I could call a friend at the time. Maybe even ever. I couldn’t sully that and cheapen it with a sexual relationship," she explained.

"Right, right," Caius rolled his eyes and then asked Philip, "Did you buy that?"

This time Philip ignored him.

"Poor guy," Caius said and though he sounded mocking, he was again compassionate to Philip’s plight. He had been in such a situation before himself— more times than he cared to remember back in his old life.

Alas, no one owes you their love. To fall in love is to also accept that you might not be loved back.

"Hey Philip, man, don’t take it to heart. You win some, you lose some," Caius said.

"I’ve not taken anything to heart," Philip said through gritted teeth.

"Good for you. First loves are usually hard to get over. You develop a soft spot for them. Such as exploring whatever loophole in your given order so you can be as least forceful as you can be in trying to get the information your Lord so desperately wants," Caius said in a musing tone.

"What the hell are you on about?" Philip asked angrily.

"Never mind," Caius said airily but he knew Philip had heard him and understood him.

Even cursed, Athenodora was still formidable. At least when you consider the militia she had at her beck and call and Venuzze. That said though, Philip never held any true animosity towards Athenodora.

Even when he asked about her from Caius and the Leopolds, there had definitely been some concern for her well-being, and it was only until he arrived at Venuzze and found Athenodora well—or alive at least—in the company of Caius and the Leopolds that he accepted that Caius and the Leopolds hadn’t harmed her.

When she slapped him, he could have retaliated or held firm so she’d hurt herself rather than him. It would have been easy considering how weak Athenodora was. But Philip couldn’t do that.

He cared for her too much to do that.

Even now, though he was still skeptical about it and didn’t trust her intentions, Philip was happy to travel with Athenodora. That they were bringing Caius with them really dampened his joy.

Caius was fascinated as he made these analyses. At first, he felt like he understood Philip more now, but then, he tried his best to smother that allusion. Someone who knew Athenodora from ’childhood’ was just as old as her. And how could knowing about someone’s unrequited love be enough to know their entire character with an existence spanning multiple centuries?

•••

Conversations were sparse in the Sky-Carriage.

Athenodora took naps very often to conserve her energy as it was best not to tap into the reserves within her Blood Reservoir just yet.

Even with Philip at the wheel, they were flying for a couple of days before nearing the border of Venuzze where the Dome wall awaited to deny them exit.

Caius and Athenodora were away from the Carriage’s cockpit while Philip brought them close. They were in a cabin, furnished to the height of luxury, and there, Athenodora’s lips were pressed to Caius’s neck to feed on him so she could continue to sustain herself.

Without the Formations of her cocoon, Athenodora needed more blood and more rest. Fortunately, Caius could help with the first. He had stocked up on Beast Blood before he departed from the Palace and used those to sustain himself so his blood could replenish regularly.

"You’re stalling," Caius said.

"No, no," Athenodora murmured as she sucked on Caius’s neck, "It’s all part of the process."

They hadn’t had sex since that one day over a week ago now. For one, the exertion wasn’t wise given Athenodora’s condition, and for another, dancing around it, teasing a possible future time and building tension was exciting.

Bonus reason that really only existed since they got in the Carriage and began this journey; Caius didn’t think Philip should be tortured with the sounds of Athenodora in passion while he steered the Sky-Carriage. It might just get the idea in his head to crash the Carriage. Or he’d go after Caius and kill him.

It just didn’t seem prudent to test the poor guy.

Still, though they couldn’t go all the way, Athenodora was invested in the teasing and building of tension.

Caius chuckled and although he should have tried to hurry her along again, he instead let her continue, leaning into it as he placed a hand on her back. Thanks to her backless gown, his fingers touched Athenodora’s skin directly, roaming across her intricate tattoos and getting her to moan against his neck.

The cabin had soundproofing, but Caius had a feeling that it wasn’t strong enough to stop Philip’s sensitive ears from picking up sounds. Alas, as considerate as he was to the plight of his fellow man, Caius couldn’t very well turn himself into a eunuch, now could he?

Athenodora sucked on his neck even harder, enough to cause a bruise, and as he groaned, Caius’s hand slipped down until he was at the small of her back. He moved down even further, grabbing her ass.

Athenodora sank her fangs into his neck and as he groaned at the pain, Caius gripped her ass even harder, using his grip to pull her against his body.

Drawing out just a little of his blood, Athenodora pulled back, looking into Caius’s face with a savoring expression.

"See how you react," she said, "Clearly, I’m not alone in this."

"Just shut up and feed?" Caius smiled and rolled his eyes.

"Hmm, don’t mind if I do," Athenodora said. This time, when she sank her fangs into Caius’s neck, she didn’t stop until she had drunk her quota of Blood. And then, she released him, already slipping into slumber.

Caius made to lay her down and Athenodora’s eyes suddenly became sharper. She wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him down for a quick, hard, and passionate kiss. When they separated, she was smiling to herself as she slipped into her trance.

Why she needed the trick, Caius had no idea. Even with the curse, she was still stronger than him and could steal a kiss whenever she wished.

Leaving her tucked in, Caius went up to the cockpit where Philip spent a few minutes ignoring his presence. And then he said,

"We’re coming up on the barrier."

"Already?" Caius sounded wowed, "Damn, you move fast."

"Dora!" Philip called.

Athenodora must have heard and used her key because the Dome wall didn’t remain solid. It shimmered and allowed the Sky-Carriage through.

Caius flicked his wrist unconsciously and retrieved his Loqui-link from his storage ring. Now that they were out of Venuzze, they were also out of the Dome’s interference.