Vampire Overlord's Harem In The Apocalypse-Chapter 54: A Chat (I)

They had settled in the apartment that Simon had entered while attempting to escape from the Acid rain.

Leo, ever the curious one, leaned back against the kitchen counter, his body relaxing into the warmth that surrounded the space.

It was a nice change from the cold, post-apocalyptic world outside. The apartment, while disheveled, had an odd comfort to it. Still, Leo couldn’t help but notice the strange holes drilled into the surface of the table, holes that seemed a little too perfect, as though they served a specific purpose.

"So what are you guys? A couple or something?" Leo asked, his eyes flicking between Rita and Simon. Rita’s cheeks immediately flushed a soft shade of pink.

"No," she said quickly, her voice laced with mild embarrassment. She turned slightly away, as though to hide the color rising in her face.

"We were... colleagues. He used to work at my old company before he moved on to something bigger. Took a higher-paying job coding for the best gaming company in the city," she explained, her tone softening as she spoke about Simon’s success.

Leo eyed Simon with a raised eyebrow, scanning him from head to toe. There was something off about the man.

Sure, it was the apocalypse and everything was weird now, but Simon’s skin — it was a shade of pale Leo couldn’t quite place. It looked... almost unnatural. But then again, strange things weren’t so strange anymore.

"Your skin looks pale as fuck," Leo blurted out, leaning forward on the counter with a casual air. "Did you fall sick or something?"

Rita glanced at Simon, then back at Leo, her brow furrowing.

She, too, seemed curious but wasn’t about to ask directly. She had her own suspicions, but she wasn’t the one on the receiving end of the question.

Simon shifted uncomfortably, his posture stiffening ever so slightly as he stared at Leo, clearly unamused by the bluntness of his comment.

"I just finished a Zombie Raid... decided to crash here while the acid rain dies down," Simon replied, his tone flat, though there was an edge of annoyance that leaked through. "That is, until you attacked me."

He glanced pointedly at Leo, his gaze sharp and cold, a clear sign of his growing frustration.

Leo, raising his hands in mock surrender, leaned back against the counter with a chuckle. "Well, don’t blame me. I just wanted some resources," he said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. His nonchalant attitude only seemed to irritate Simon more, but Leo didn’t care.

He was always a little too playful when he was testing someone’s limits.

Simon’s lips thinned into a tight line. "You don’t want to test me again," he muttered under his breath, though the words were more of a warning than an outright threat.

He gave Leo a pointed look before his eyes flicked away, focusing on something in the distance, perhaps trying to reign in his irritation.

Leo wasn’t fazed. The man was obviously tense, but he wasn’t worried. The tension in the room, however, made it feel heavier, thicker. Something about Simon didn’t sit right with him.

It wasn’t just the pale skin or the strange mood — it was everything. Leo had seen all kinds of survivors since the world ended, but Simon felt... different.

"So," Simon started, breaking the silence, "What about you guys? What were you doing out there? Most survivors are holed up inside, hiding from the rain."

His gaze turned to Rita, then to Leo, searching their faces for any clue, any hint of an answer.

Leo tilted his head slightly, considering his options. This was the moment where they could reveal their plans — or not.

They hadn’t exactly been open with Simon about their intentions. It was better to keep their cards close to their chest. Who knew if this guy was from another group? What if he was with some faction out there, looking to trade information, or worse, looking for trouble?

Rita glanced at Leo, her eyes narrowing. She, too, understood the importance of discretion in these days.

They couldn’t afford to just spill everything to a stranger. Not after everything that had happened.

Leo took a deep breath and started reaching for his back pocket. His fingers brushed against the small pouch with a gun he kept with him.

He didn’t really need anything from the bag, but the movement gave him a moment to think.

Rita caught his eye, and without saying a word, she understood. Leo wasn’t about to trust Simon just yet.

For a moment, they sat in silence, weighing their options. But then Simon spoke again, his voice casual, but the undercurrent of sincerity in his words made Leo pause.

"And don’t worry," Simon added, his gaze now squarely on Leo. "I’m not with any group. Whatever you say here won’t get out. I’m not the kind to gossip."

Rita gave a slight nod, still unsure of whether she fully trusted Simon’s words. Her instincts told her that he was telling the truth, but even then, the old habit of skepticism was hard to shake.

They had learned that lesson the hard way. In the world they now lived in, everyone had something to hide. Trust was a commodity, and they didn’t give it away easily.

Leo finally spoke, his voice steady and cautious. "Alright, fair enough," he said, leaning back a little. "But we’re not just going to give you our life story. We’ve got our reasons for doing things our way."

Simon gave a small nod, not at all offended by Leo’s guarded response. "Good. I’m not here to force you into anything," Simon replied, his voice softer now, as if trying to ease the tension between them.

Leo observed him for a moment. There was something in Simon’s demeanor that made Leo believe he was, at the very least, telling the truth about not being a part of any group.

Still, Leo wasn’t ready to let his guard down entirely. The world had a way of making people act in ways they wouldn’t normally. And Simon... well, Simon didn’t seem entirely normal.

The silence stretched on, thick and expectant. Rita broke it by speaking, her voice quiet but firm. "We were out there because we’re looking for something," she said, keeping her tone casual, though there was a sharpness behind her words that Leo recognized. "A place to settle. A way to survive. That’s all."

Simon gave a thoughtful hum, his gaze turning inward for a moment as if he was contemplating their words. "Sounds like we’re all looking for the same thing, then," he said, leaning back against the wall as though the conversation had taken a more comfortable turn.

Leo raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "You think so?" he asked, his tone skeptical.

Simon met his eyes again, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. "The world’s gone to hell. Everyone’s fighting for a place to call home. But... if you’re smart, you learn to take advantage of opportunities when they come your way."

Leo couldn’t help but smile at that. "Smart, huh?" he muttered under his breath. "Yeah, I suppose that’s one way to put it."

"So do you guys know anything about Adrian?" Simon asked, his demeanor changing in an instant.