«R-Ren… what the hell happened?!» Iris screams.
She has every reason to be worried. Ren has just arrived at the door with two deep gashes and Yuzu unconscious in his arms.
«It was that vampire again. This time he went beyond threats… I managed to drive him away, but Yuzu fainted when she saw me injured. You know how afraid she is of blood…»
«Luckily Mika is already asleep. Otherwise she would be giving us the usual lecture about how dangerous it is to stay here. After everything that's happened lately, I can't even blame her. Mom and Dad had bought that vacation house in Rome, remember? I really don't feel like moving there, but it seems like our only option.»
As she speaks, Iris gently takes Yuzu from Ren's arms and carries her to the bedroom. Then she lays her down on the double bed next to Mika.
It once belonged to their parents, but now all four of them sleep there for safety.
While Iris takes Yuzu to the room, Ren lets himself fall onto the couch, exhausted. He grabs a pack of cigarettes from the coffee table and lights one.
Usually Iris would scold him and force him to go outside to smoke, but tonight she doesn't have the heart to be strict.
Behind him, hanging on the wall, there is a family photo.
In the front row are Ren and his sisters. Behind them, Aoshi Toya, a human, and Eliss Narkhalis, a succubus and former princess of the demonic kingdom of Ravessia, in the world of Elyndra. She had given up her title over twenty years earlier to live on Earth with Aoshi.
For six years, their parents have been only painful memories, massacred by Raelor Valraen.
«I know that moving would be the safest choice… but it would mean forcing you to give up the life you built here. I swore that I would do everything possible to allow you to live as normal a life as possible, and I won't go back on that — even if it means risking my life.»
«Don't forget that I'm three years older than you! I'm the eldest — the one who should take care of you. I can't allow you to be the only one sacrificing yourself for us. I can fight too, but you always keep me out of everything, and it's not fair! I want to protect our family too!»
As she speaks, Iris pulls off his shirt, then his pants, leaving him in his underwear.
She moves away for a moment and throws the torn and blood-stained clothes into the trash.
Then she kneels in front of him.
«Let me take care of your wounds, Ren.»
He nods, and she takes his left arm, gently pulling it toward herself. Her eyes fill with tears when she sees the deep cut on her brother's arm.
Iris parts her lips and lets her tongue slide out. Then she places it on the wound and begins to lick along its edges.
Ren grits his teeth at the burning sensation as Iris spreads her saliva over the wound, now tinted a dull pink.
It is a powerful form of magic that allows succubi to turn saliva into a healing lotion capable of closing even serious wounds.
Iris knows how painful the process is. She squeezes his hand while she continues to lick, as if she wants to share the pain with him.
After the treatment, the wound on his arm does not disappear completely, but it stops bleeding and is much less open.
Now she bends over the one on his thigh, just below the groin. As she does, her long blonde curls fall over her blue eyes and full chest, bare beneath the transparent nightgown.
She treats it the same way as before, leaving Ren pleasantly relaxed.
Yet that sensation is not enough to drive from his mind the name spoken by the vampire — Raelor Valraen.
«How does he know…? Could Raelor really be behind all this? I doubt it… He was never the type to surround himself with subordinates.
He is still much stronger than me, and if he were truly interested in us, it would only take him a moment to take us by force.
That bastard… sooner or later I will kill him — even if it will be the last thing I do!»
Iris's tongue gently slides over his skin until that wound too is almost completely healed.
«Do you feel better now, Ren?»
Ren nods silently. His gaze remains fixed on the ceiling, veiled by cigarette smoke.
«I'm really happy to hear that. Do you need anything else?» Iris asks, her eyes full of love and concern — the same look a wife might give her husband after a long day at work.
«The only thing I want right now is a hot bath and to crawl into bed. That's all.»
«Do you want me to wash your back, little brother?»
Ren blushes slightly.
«C-Come on, Iris… I'm not a child anymore…»
Iris gives him an annoyed look.
«There is no age at which a brother can't have his back washed by his sister, you know? You may be big and strong now, but you're still my sweet little brother!»
«Maybe another time. It's late, and you need to rest. You can't show up at work tired.»
«Ugh… and to think that when you were little you used to throw tantrums because you wanted me to wash you instead of Mom. Fine then — but don't stay up too late, okay? I'll wait for you in bed.»