Chapter 54 - 53

"My love" Stephen gently called out to Theodora.

He wanted to use his other hand to wipe away those tears on her pretty face. But alas, he could no longer feel it. That's right, his arm got ripped off. It's still lucky that he could still see her even if it's a little while.

"Yes, baby?" Theodora wiped away her tears and leaned in to touch his forehead with hers.

"Do you remember the first time we met?"

Theodora's eyes softened. Who wouldn't remember this man shining brightly in that cold winter?

"Of course I do"

.

.

.

It was around 300 years ago when the two of them had met.

Theodora had gotten injured by those monsters and is currently hiding in this shack. To add more to her pilling plate of problems, the village that she had been residing in for the meantime branded her as a Witch. It was utterly annoying of them since she had been careful in the past 3 years whilst building up their trusts. Their reason was that ever since she entered the town, the men there would suddenly disappear one by one. The next day, they would appear as if they've been drained of their blood. No one could guarantee what made them like this since it seemed to be the work of a monster.

Thus the village elders decided that it must be her work. Condemning her to be a witch and giving her the punishment of being burned at the stake.

It was true she was the source of some of those deaths but she would only hunt once every few months since one human can last her for so long. So it meant there was another being hunting in the region. And so she escaped her prison cell. Theodora even took the liberty of hunting down that monster that was killing all of those people.

'If only I didn't get attached to those villagers... then I wouldn't have gotten these injuries'

This wasn't the first time that she got branded as a witch but she still kept hoping that there were humans like her who had a consciousness to know between right and wrong.

Before she became a subordinate of Lady Kassandra, she had been a simple village girl with a tomboyish side. She was considered the beauty and she would help with everything. Even with hunting, she would try to help.

It was by the off chance she discovered this magical creature. It was a huge creature that looked similar to those wolves that would hunt their livestock. The only difference, this one had sharp piercing gold eyes and wings. Its claws also looked longer and more dangerous. But instead of the usual growls, it only stared at her.

"Theodora!" someone called out but when she turned back, that creature was gone.

'Must be my imagination'

She got engaged to a man from her village. But while she had been hunting out once more, the wolf monster appeared. Only this time, it was closer to her than ever. Her breath hitched as this creature smelled her. The creature opened its mouth and it spoke to her.

"There are boars in that direction" The creature pointed with its head. "Do not come near this place again, it is dangerous for you human"

Theodora was mesmerized by the creature and despite its warnings, she would visit it. It said that its race was called Draco Wolves. Back then, under Lady Kassandra's blessings, they were allowed to soar the skies but now the humans started to hunt them for sport.

"That's terrible!"

Theodora who had also participated in hunts felt guilty. There were those in her village that would hunt more than what they needed and that resulted in the animals would migrate farther into the forests.

The Draco Wolf she befriended told her that their Lady told them that all humans were evil. But the Draco Wolf believed that there is still good in this world. Just like her.

On the wedding night of Theodora... The man whom she believed to be good, tried to force himself onto her. When she screamed, the Draco Wolf she befriended suddenly crashed into her house and killed the man.

Villagers saw the scene and Theodora desperately told the Draco Wolf to run away. It hesitated but it thought that it would put its human friend in more danger. 

But to its surprise, the following day the villagers tied Theodora at a stake. Throwing rocks at her and calling her a witch before burning her.

The Draco Wolf wreaked havoc and took Theodora's body to Kassandra asking her to save the human.

"You wish for me to save this human? But it is already crossing the borders of life and death. Not only that but you got injured for it... why?"

"I believe that there are some good humans in this world. If you cannot save her with your powers, then I shall give up my body"

"Nonsense. I don't want my child to disappear for another" Kassandra gave a small portion of her powers to this human. She hasn't done this but her child was willing to beg for its life.

"If it overcomes the power I gave it and pledge its life to me then consider your wish granted"

"Thank you mother"

She might be dying that's why she's remembering memories from 200 years ago on how she even ended up becoming this unknown creature. Was she still a human? or Was she a monster now?

"Bark!" a dog started to bark and it seemed like it was scratching at the door.

"Finn! What are you barking at?" A man's voice could be heard and Theodora immediately backed up but she hits something behind her that made a noise.

The man outside quiets down and then suddenly the door bursts open. The man had been holding a shovel and saw her.

"Who are you? Why are you on my property?" the man's brown eyes glared at her. Her red eyes trailed down to his neck.

'if I drank now... I'll be able to heal'

"Wait..." The man noticed the trail of blood leading up to the woman and a wave of worry hits him.

"Are you alright?! Gosh, you're a trespasser but I can't just argh!" It seems like this man didn't want to clean up a dead corpse on his property. This is why they ended up inside his house.

The man diligently wrapped bandages around her waist.

"I'll try to get a doctor to check up on you as soon as possible but this should be enough to stop the bleeding" He tells her and she just can't help but wonder why this person was helping her without reason.

"W-What's that stare for? I know it's shameful for a man to touch a woman he just met but you need treatment and"

"You don't have to call for a doctor"

"But your wound is so severe!" 

"I dislike doctors" If a doctor saw her and took her pulse, he would notice that she is not normal. But she can't just leave this wound alone.

"Then?"

"if you have medicinal herbs instead, please use those" Theodora smiled at this man. She would have just eaten this man but she remembered the kindness that Draco Wolf showed to her.

"Alright. Where are you from? You don't seem like a lady from any nearby villages" In his mind, she was too pretty to be in a poor area.

'She might be a runaway noble'

He was preparing simple porridge when he suddenly had that thought and he grimaced at his cooking. Hopefully, it suits the Lady's taste.

"I'm from Suta Mair"

"But that's so far?!"

"Yes, I was traveling when I got injured"

"I see.." The man offered her the porridge and Theodora stared at it for a while before eating.

"It's delicious... Thank you, sir?"

"Stephen" The man introduced himself. "Please drop the Sir, I'm not a noble. I'm just a simple bread maker. The shack you hid in was actually my tool shed for getting wheat"

"Oh, I'm sorry if I dirtied it" Theodora lowered her head and Stephen waved his hand.

"It's alright, you were trying to take shelter from the cold winter. What about you?"

"Hmm?"

"What's your name?"

"My name is Theodora"

Stephen thought about her name and smiled.

"That name certainly suits you" That name meant God's Gift. She indeed looked like a gift from God. Theodora looked to the side and muttered a thank you as she continued to eat the porridge. It's not like she needed to eat these but why is this man's porridge tastier than those she has eaten in the past?

Stephen allowed her to stay in his house for a while. He would bake loaves of bread in this cold winter while Theodora stayed upstairs in his room to slowly recover. They would be lying if they said that they didn't grow close as she stayed there.

Winter passed and Theodora's wounds were still bad.

"I just noticed something" Stephen leaned by the doorframe

"Hmm?

"Why don't you go outside when the sun is out?"

"Would you believe me if I said I was a monster who can't stay in the sun?"

Stephen was taken aback by this sudden question but he laughed. It was a stupid question.

"Tell me, what's the actual reason"

"I'm allergic to the sun. I get sunburnt faster"

"I see" That indeed was tedious. Especially when she was still a patient.

The time continued to pass and Theodora was slowly getting weaker. Stephen was concerned and he couldn't get the doctor because Theodora would refuse.

"You're going to die at this rate Theo!" Stephen held her hand.

Theodora smiled sadly and patted his hand.

"I won't die don't worry"

"How can I not worry?!" Stephen began to cry "I'm afraid that I have fallen for you and I can't stand seeing you like this"

Theodora was in shock to hear this but she knew that if she told him the truth, he would hate her.

"Remember when I asked you 'What if I was a monster?'"

"This isn't the time to joke Theo!"

"What if I told you I needed to drink human blood to get well?"

"What?"

"Would you still tell me that you love me if I was a monster that drinks the blood of humans?"

Stephen stared at her and he suddenly lets go of her hand.