Awakening Domination System: But I'm a Slave?-Chapter 341: Getting Violent Are We?

The corridors were empty.

Dark stone walls stretched endlessly in both directions, illuminated only by purple crystals that cast everything in twilight glow.

A figure moved through them with practiced ease, young woman, maybe nineteen or twenty, with brown hair pulled back in simple braid.

She carried a wicker basket that suggested mundane purpose.

She hummed as she walked. Soft melody that echoed slightly off stone, filling the silence with something almost cheerful despite the oppressive atmosphere.

The basket contained fresh linens.

She stopped before a door, unremarkable among dozens of identical ones lining this corridor. Pushed it open without knocking.

And stepped inside.

The chamber beyond was comfortable.

Not luxurious, but well-appointed. A proper bed with clean sheets. A window with curtains drawn. Well maintained furniture.

She set the basket down beside the door. Her humming ceased. And she just... looked at the figure lying motionless on the bed.

"Alaric Glimor," she whispered.

Then she moved closer. Her steps were quiet and careful. Like approaching something dangerous despite its current harmless state.

She stood beside the bed, staring down at his unconscious face.

And her hand instinctively moved to her neck.

To the place where his mouth had been. Where he’d fed from her with desperate hunger that transcended simple blood-drinking. Where she’d felt his essence pulling at hers.

Her cheeks flushed.

Heat spreading across her face as the memory replayed. The sensation. The way her body had responded despite the terror, despite knowing she was being drained—

"What the hell," she muttered, shaking her head furiously. Trying to dislodge the thoughts. "Just what were you thinking, Elena?"

She pressed both hands to her burning cheeks. Took several deep breaths.

Calm down.

When her face felt less like it was on fire, she stepped closer again.

Looked down at him properly this time.

Alaric lay completely still. His breathing shallow but steady, eyes were closed. His features relaxed in ways they never were when conscious.

He looked... young. Vulnerable. Just a boy rather than the ruthless man who’d—

Her hand reached out. Fingers tracing along his jawline.

"Bastard," she whispered. "My best friend nearly died because of you. Because of what you did to her."

Her fingers moved to his cheekbone. Tracing the line of it. The architecture of his face that was objectively handsome even if she hated admitting it.

"I would have been dead too," she continued quietly. "If not for Lady Lilith saving me."

Her hand stilled on his cheek. Resting there.

"Though..." She frowned slightly. "I don’t understand why my lady ordered me not to do anything to you. Told me to just let you lay here. Even made me responsible for checking on you daily."

She puffed her cheeks in frustration. "It’s not fair, you know? You’re my enemy. I’m supposed to make your life miserable. To hate you. To want revenge for what you did."

But even as she said it, her thumb was moving. Unconsciously stroking his cheek in gentle gesture that contradicted every word.

"Not this," she finished.

She stared at him. At his peaceful face.

"Keeping all that aside..." Her voice dropped even quieter. Almost embarrassed. "You really do look cute though."

The admission hung in the air.

Then her brain caught up to what her mouth had just said.

Her face went crimson.

She slapped herself. Hard. "Idiot! Just what are you doing? He’s your enemy! Your—"

Then again.

And suddenly, she froze mid-slap. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Because his breathing had hitched.

His face so peaceful moments before, crumpled slightly.

A sound escaped his lips. Ragged. Distressed.

Elena’s eyes went wide. She stepped back instinctively—

Alaric’s entire body jerked.

His crimson eyes snapped open.

"Haaa... haaa..."

Gasping.

Like breaking surface after drowning. His hands clutched at the sheets beneath him, his chest heaving, his pupils dilated.

For several heartbeats, he just breathed. Ragged. Getting oxygen into lungs that felt starved despite his body having been breathing fine moments before.

Then his eyes focused.

Found Elena standing beside the bed, frozen mid-retreat, her hazel eyes wide with shock.

They stared at each other.

Silence stretched.

Alaric’s mind raced.

Where am I? Who’s—

Then everything clicked into place.

The Academy attack. Fighting this girl.

Lilith appearing. The overwhelming power. Being knocked unconscious before he could—

His expression hardened.

Crimson eyes went cold. The vulnerability of sleep disappearing completely.

Elena saw the shift. Watched his face transform from confused to dangerous in heartbeats.

Her breath hitched. She was already backing away, moving toward the door.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Alaric shot up from the bed. Crossed the distance between them in two strides.

His hand closed around Elena’s throat and slammed her back against the wall.

Hard enough to knock the breath from her lungs. Hard enough to rattle her skull against stone.

Elena choked. Her hands immediately flew to his wrist, gripping it, trying to pry his fingers away from her throat.

But his grip was iron.

"You’re going to tell me exactly what happened. Where Nyra is."

Then suddenly, the pressure in the room changed.

Alaric’s grip on Elena’s throat loosened fractionally.

"Getting violent, are we?"

The voice was feminine. Playful. Carrying undertone of power that made Alaric’s survival instincts scream.

Lilith.

The shadows in the corner of the room shifted.

And she stepped out of the darkness like she’d always been there, just waiting for appropriate moment to reveal herself.

In her mature form, tall, curved, radiating presence that filled the room despite the space being physically unchanged. White hair flowing past her shoulders. Crimson eyes with vertical slit pupils fixed on Alaric with interest that felt predatory.

She wore flowing black dress that seemed to move independently of air currents. Her tail swished behind her in lazy patterns. Small horns curved from her forehead, catching the purple crystal light.

"Elena," Lilith said pleasantly, not taking her eyes off Alaric. "You can go. I’ll handle our guest from here."

Elena gasped as Alaric’s grip released completely, the pressure in the room making it impossible for him to maintain hold. She stumbled away from the wall, one hand pressed to her throat, breathing hard.

And then Elena fled. The door closed behind her with soft click.

Leaving Alaric and Lilith alone.