Seamus's eyes shot open as he jolted upright, breath ragged, his whole body drenched in sweat. It felt like he'd just run a marathon.
Worse, his vision spun with stars before he collapsed back down onto the bed, dizzy and weak all over.
"What... what's happening to me?" he muttered groggily, one hand gripping his forehead.
His eyes darted around the room, and he realized that this wasn't his room. The walls were lined with ornate Victorian decor, the fireplace still warm with embers, the air thick with the scent of aged wood and polish.
Paintings hung in golden frames, the bed was massive, and everything screamed wealth.
"Ugh… my head… my stomach..." he groaned, covering his face. "I feel like throwing up."
Then he noticed something even weirder. Floating in the air before him was a glowing screen.
Just hovering there, like it was the most normal thing in the world. A system window. Like the ones from those cheap light novels or games he used to read at the bookstore during his shift.
It read:
---
[Welcome, Seamus]
[You have activated the Scarlet Purgatory Lust System]
[Would you like to see your status?]
---
He stared at it, completely blank for a few seconds.
'What the actual hell? A system? Like in a video game?'
He didn't know what was happening, but Seamus had a bad feeling about this.
Well, the light novel he read at least proves to him that the system sometimes brings chaos and suffering to those who hold it.
However, it wasn't like he had a choice at all. It was already there and he couldn't just ignore it.
Maybe it was the other system that brought 'heaven on earth' like sex since there was a 'Lust' in that name.
"…Screw it. Let's see it."
---
[Host Status Information:]
[Name: Seamus Danford]
[Age: 18 years old]
[Race: Vampire ???]
[Level: 5]
[Evolution Stage: Exordium]
[Level Required for Next Evolution: 10]
[Sigil: None]
---
[Attributes:]
[Sanguin Vein: 100 / 100]
[ATK: 20 | DEF: 10 | SPD: 25 | STR: 15 | CHA: 30 | VIT: 25]
---
There were terms he didn't understand, but one thing stood out.
Race: Vampire ???
"…What?"
Suddenly his chest tightened. His heart slammed painfully against his ribs, and then it all came rushing back. Flashes of red, the memory like a blade scraping across his mind.
Viviane.
Her voice in his ear. Her fangs on his neck. The way she claimed him, called him hers.
"Forever and ever…"
The memory was too clear now. Too vivid to be a dream.
"No… that was just a nightmare… right?" he whispered.
---
[Incorrect.]
[That was a memory, Seamus Danford.]
[You are now a ??? type of vampire.]
[As your system that will guide you through evolution, I recommend you keep this information hidden for now.]
---
His throat tightened.
"No… no, no, that doesn't make sense. I'm just… I'm just some part-timer with a girlfriend! Why me? Why a system? Why vampires? And what do you mean by 'evolution'?!"
The questions kept pouring out, his breath speeding up again, as the world he knew began to crumble.
He gripped the blanket tightly, heart still racing.
Everything—his job, his school, his relationship, even his own body—had changed. And all of it, all this madness, started the moment he met his hot GF.
"…Dad…" he whispered.
If Viviane was a vampire, and now he was becoming one, then Andrew was either in danger… or already dead.
"Think about it… He met Isolde in a single night and then they got married. There's no way someone like her would want him in the first place."
"It was all planned," a woman's voice suddenly said.
Seamus jolted, eyes darting around until he saw Isolde already seated on the sofa in front of the fireplace.
He swore that she wasnt there a moment ago or inside the room. He didnt even hear someone enter the room!
Isole's crimson eyes glinting with interest.
"You're smarter than I thought," she smiled, "and not once have you acted like the world was ending. Good boy. I'm glad you'll be my son."
She stood and approached the bed.
Seamus instinctively scooted back, only to find the headboard pressing against his spine. Nowhere left to go.
Isolde reached out, lifting his chin with one perfectly manicured black nail. "Or… would you prefer me as your lover instead?"
He furrowed his brows. Under normal circumstances, he might not have refused such an offer. But this woman was a vampire: a blood-sucking monster who nearly drained him dry.
"Where is my father? What did you do to him?"
Isolde's smile briefly twisted into a frown, but her voice stayed calm. "Oh, he's fine. He's been enjoying himself, gambling again, of course. It seems he's living the best night of his life."
"You… didn't do anything to him? Like turn him into a vampire?"
Seamus touched the side of his neck instinctively. A small sting. When he pressed down, he felt it, a bite mark.
Noticing his reaction, Isolde's eye twitched. She reached for his hand, gently brushing the wound.
"I apologize for my daughter's… impatience. It wasn't supposed to happen like that. You must be terrified."
He blinked, surprised by her sudden sympathy.
But then she leaned closer, whispering in his ear, "We should've shared you, you know. My lovely boy."
Her hand moved slowly down his thigh, inching toward forbidden territory.
Seamus shivered. Her words were too cruel, her touch too calculated.
"And maybe," she added, her hand brushing against his erection, "you would've loved it."
He pushed her away. "You're all insane."
Clenching his fists, he demanded, "Why me? Why turn me? Is it because I'm close to Viviane?"
"Oh no, not at all, dear," Isolde said with a chuckle. "Your blood is special. Irresistible. Like nectar to us. We couldn't stop ourselves from tasting it."
"And you're not a vampire. We didn't 'turn' you. That would break the old rules. So don't worry, I'll take care of you. Physically… emotionally. Just think of me as your mother."
"Don't you miss her?"
"Don't you dare bring up my mom."
Isolde laughed softly. "Why are you so rude to me, dear? Don't you want to be loved by your mother? Or... the kind of love you shared with Viviane? Ah, that lucky girl…"
Her lips hovered over his neck, tongue flicking across the fading bite. She licked, slowly, savoring what little blood remained.
"Why don't you let your stepmother have just a little taste?"
Seamus tried to push her again but she was faster. She shoved him back onto the bed and climbed on top, straddling him with ease. In his weakened state, there was no way he could fight her off.
She pinned his wrist and brought it to her lips.
"Call me 'Mother,' my sweet child."
"That's—"
Before he could finish, her fangs sank into his wrist. He winced, blood spilling as she drank greedily. Crimson stained his shirt and dripped across the sheets.
"Ahhh... What a shame I have to share you with others," she murmured, licking her lips.
"It'd be so much more fun if it were just the two of us, forever. Don't you think, Seamus?"
Seamus didn't respond. His body burned. He was aroused, uncontrollably so. The moment she started drinking, he became hard.
"Oh? Are you getting excited?" Isolde purred. "Do you want your mommy to help you?"