The night hung heavy like a blanket soaked in silence. The alleyway reeked of blood, smoke, and something darker now.
Lucifer stood still, holding Anita's lifeless body in his arms. Her hoodie had slipped off her head, and her face looked peaceful. Too peaceful.
Then—
Her fingers twitched.
Lucifer raised an eyebrow.
Another twitch. Then a slow inhale—shaky, like she hadn't breathed in years.
Her eyes snapped open.
They weren't the same.
No longer brown.
They glowed faint red. Not bright like Lucifer's, but new. Raw. Unstable. Hungry.
She gasped, her body jerking like she was drowning in air. Her hands gripped Lucifer's coat like she was falling.
"Holy sh—what…" Her voice cracked, then fell quiet.
Lucifer just smiled. A proud kind of smile. "Welcome back, Anita."
She stared at him, breathing fast, heart pounding in her ears—except… it wasn't her heart. It was his. She could hear it. Smell it. The blood. The warmth.
And then she felt it.
Hunger.
Lucifer gently turned her around in his arms, like guiding someone through a dance, until she was facing the barely-conscious thug—the last one, still groaning, still bleeding, crawling weakly.
"You're not done yet," Lucifer said softly beside her ear.
Anita blinked, dazed. "What do you mean—"
"You're still human. Halfway." He stepped back and pointed at the man on the ground. "Feed. Complete the change."
She froze, staring at the thug. The scent of blood hit her again. Stronger this time. So sweet. So close.
"Feed…?" she whispered, confused. "Like, bite him?"
Lucifer nodded slowly, eyes glowing in the dark.
"You want power? Then take it. He tried to hurt you. Now you make him your first meal."
Anita took a shaky step forward. Her hands trembled. Her mouth opened, and—
Fangs.
They dropped down on instinct, sharp and gleaming in the moonlight.
She knelt beside the thug, eyes locked on his neck. His breathing hitched when he saw her face. Her eyes. Her teeth.
"Pl-Please…" he whispered.
She hesitated for a second.
Then…
She sank her fangs into his neck.
He screamed—then gurgled.
Lucifer watched like a proud older brother at a graduation ceremony. Arms crossed. Eyes glowing.
Anita drank.
Her body trembled. Then stopped.
Then—
A pulse.
It rippled through her like lightning, from her toes to the tips of her hair. Her eyes flared crimson. Her heart—dead just moments ago—beat once.
Then stopped for good.
But she wasn't dead.
She was something else now.
Ding!
Lucifer's system chimed in his head.
> Quest Complete: Create Your First Spawn
Reward: +3 Stat Points
Skill Unlocked: Bloodline Pulse
Bloodline Pulse (Active): You can send a surge of energy through your vampire lineage, temporarily increasing your childe's speed, strength, and senses for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 1 minute.
It can also Emit a pulse that forces all childe created by you to freeze or obey, depending on intent. Scales with Charisma and Blood Affinity.
Lucifer let out a low whistle. "Nice."
He flicked his fingers, pulling up his stats menu for a second. Three new points glowed, waiting to be used. He smiled but didn't touch them yet.
He had time.
Right now, this was about her.
Anita slowly pulled back from the thug's now-pale neck, wiping blood from her lips with the sleeve of her hoodie.
Her eyes met Lucifer's.
"I feel… different," she muttered, voice deeper, calmer. A strange kind of confidence in her tone now.
"You are different," Lucifer said. "You're mine now. My childe."
He stepped closer, brushing a bit of dried blood off her cheek with his thumb.
"How do you feel?"
Anita looked down at her hands. Clenched them. Opened them. Then cracked her neck with a satisfying pop.
"Strong," she said.
Lucifer grinned. "Told you."
She looked back at the thug. "Is he dead?"
"Almost. Don't worry. You'll learn how to stop before killing them… eventually."
Lucifer looked at the sky. The moon was high. The night still young.
"You hungry for more?" he asked with a sly smile.
Anita wiped her mouth again, a twitch of a smirk forming.
"…Kinda."
Lucifer turned, walking towards the exit of the alley.
"Come on then, rookie. First night out. Let's see what kind of monster you'll become."
Anita followed, her footsteps now silent. Shadow-like.
The alley went quiet again.
Only the dead remained.
Not far from the alley, the bass from a club thumped through the night like a heartbeat. Neon lights pulsed over a line of people waiting outside—heels tapping, cigarettes burning, some drunk, some bored, all impatient.
Lucifer strolled past them like the line didn't exist, hands in his coat pockets, Anita walking behind him, hoodie up, eyes still adjusting to the world with her new senses. People started complaining.
"Hey, back of the line, jackass!"
"The hell does he think he is?"
Lucifer didn't even blink.
The bouncer—a big guy, arms like tree trunks, shades even at night—stepped forward, hand on Lucifer's chest.
"No cuttin'—"
Lucifer met his eyes.
Just one look.
That was all it took.
"Let us in."
The bouncer's mouth opened to argue… then slowly shut. He stepped aside without a word, like a machine switched off. Lucifer walked in like he owned the place, Anita following close, wide-eyed.
Inside, it was chaos. Flashing lights, bodies grinding, drinks sloshing. The music hit like a wave—heavy, loud, intoxicating.
Lucifer leaned toward Anita. "Rule one," he said over the music, "blend in."
He pulled off her hoodie, ruffled her hair a bit, and gave her a lazy smile. "You're not prey anymore, remember? Act like it."
She looked around, nervous… but nodded.
They made their way to the bar. Lucifer ordered a drink just to hold something. Anita sat beside him, fidgeting.
"Thirsty yet?" he asked casually.
"…Yeah. Kinda."
"Good," he said, eyes scanning the crowd. "Pick someone."
"What?!"
He chuckled. "Relax. I'll help. We're not killing tonight. Just a taste."
[Quest Updated: Feed Without Killing]
[Time Remaining: 1h:27m]
Lucifer spotted a guy in a leather jacket, dancing with a girl, clearly drunk but grinning. His heartbeat was loud in Anita's ears. She looked at him like a cat watching a bird.
Lucifer leaned in again. "He'll do. Watch me first."
He moved through the crowd smooth as smoke, tapped the guy on the shoulder.
"Hey," Lucifer said with a smile, "mind if I borrow you for a second?"
"…Huh? Sure, I guess?"
Lucifer guided him to a quiet corner behind the speakers. The guy looked confused but didn't resist. Lucifer smiled and placed a hand on his neck gently.
"This won't hurt. Much."
Fangs flashed. A soft bite. Just enough to make the guy groan and blink slowly, like slipping into a dream.
Lucifer pulled away, licking his lips. The guy stood there, dazed but fine.
"See?" Lucifer said, wiping the corner of his mouth. "Easy. Now you."
Anita stepped forward, hands shaking.
Lucifer guided her. "Behind the ear. Small bite. Just take a little. Don't drain."
She bit. The man tensed—then relaxed.
Anita's eyes widened. She tasted blood. Warm. Sweet. Alive.
She pulled back, breathing hard, heart racing.
The guy blinked. "…Whoa. I feel kinda good."
"Go dance," Lucifer said, patting his back. The guy wandered off with a goofy smile.
[Quest Complete: Feed Without Killing]
[+5 Stat Points Awarded]
[New Title Unlocked: Gentle Predator]
Anita leaned against the wall, panting slightly.
"…That was insane."
Lucifer grinned. "Told you. Feeding can be fun. Especially when no one dies."
They went back to the bar. Lucifer raised his glass.
"To the night," he said.
"To not being weak," Anita added, still tasting blood on her lips.
The music pounded. Lights flashed.
And somewhere deep inside her—
Anita smiled.