Blood Awakening: The Strongest Hybrid and His Vampire Bride

Nikolai's eyes closed, leaning against the back of the cold submarine wall as it sank deeper into the ocean, heading back towards the mainland. His whole body ached, slouching against the metal table, and he suddenly noticed the strange passenger gazing at him from the doorway.

"Good evening, handsome," a pleasant, sultry voice sounded to his side. "How did you end up in such a mess?"

Nikolai glared at the charming mermaid, but she just smiled back at him gracefully, approaching him with seductive steps. She was holding a small tray filled with a hot drink and sandwich, striding towards him while tapping her heels with each step as she observed Nikolai's reaction and face intently with her narrowed eyes.

This felt different from her usual self, but he couldn't be bothered pushing her away.

"Go away," he told her in the calmest tone he could manage.

"Don't be silly, your father sent me," she said with utmost confidence, not budging from her spot.

"Did he, now?" Nikolai grumbled with a rhetoric question while ignoring his irritation and quietly watched her blow on the steaming hot drink. Surpisingly, Amphitrite remained calm and visibly at ease even when he spoke with a short and curt voice. Just before he prepared to complain, Amphitrite passed over the hot cup filled with a sweet-scented chocolate and cinnamon. Nikolai extended his hand, taking the cup from her and sniffed the steamy vapours. "Well... it smells really good. it'd be a waste not to try it."

"Hmph, you love acting pretentious, don't you," she retorted with a defiant smile. "You seem to have a sweet tooth, good to know."

Nikolai simply sipped his hot chocolate and peeked at the sandwich on the tray. Damn seductress, but she was right.

"Well..." she muttered, leaning against his shoulder, "are you alright?"

Nikolai observed the mermaid, her atmosphere different from usual but feeling quite comfortable. Sometimes, he enjoyed quiet moments like this. But only sometimes.

"Do you want the honest answer?" Nikolai asked with a sigh, seeking support. He knew asking her might be stupid, but nobody else could give him an accurate or valuable response. This only frustrated him, knowing she wanted to get into his pants and that spilling his secrets could never end well.

"I do, at least... I want to know more about you," she smiled with a whisper, clearly trying to display her honesty and how trustworthy she was. "Will you tell me?"

Nikolai let out a long-winded sigh. Amphitrite had always been a woman that confused his senses and thoughts, but unlike Nikita or his wives offered a more realistic approach. She was extremely forward and aggressive since they returned to the mansion, though, and she never tried to hold back and remained relentless in trying to seduce him. All he wanted was to find an answer to his question.

"Amphitrite, if someone you cared about was about to die, but you could save her..."

She examined his face with narrowed eyes for a moment before she seemed to understand something and quickly nodded. Nikolai's eyes widened when he realised what she was about to do to him.

"W-wait!" he yelled as her hands cupped his cheeks, only to have her eyes close playfully before pecking his cheek. "Amphitrite! What are you doing, this isn't what I wanted!"

"I know, it's what I wanted," was her response.

After brushing a few hairs from his cheeks, Amphitrite continued to lean closer, kissing his cheeks several times, her soft lips a little cold against his skin. "Tell me what's wrong, okay?"

Her sultry voice lowered his defences, causing Nikolai's body to shift, focused on Amphitrite's tender lips and her warm breath blowing against his face rather than the issue at hand. His chest pounded slowly before feeling her fiery gaze. "Then stop kissing me." He responded with a bullish attitude.

"Even though you like it?" she placed her forehead against his neck while slowly sniffing his scent.

It didn't take Nikolai's guard long to collapse—he never wanted to resist, to be honest, and would have willingly accepted her lips normally or if his mind was clear.

He was just stunned about the situation with Lunaria and didn't want to feel these kinds of emotions right now. He could keep his lust under control, but he was pretty sure that it would eventually become impossible with Amphitrite being so close.

His consideration didn't take long—he reached up and grabbed her palm and squeezed it gently.

"You win," when he spoke those words in a tone of defeat, Amphitrite's eyes shone with a brilliant glow, before kissing him on-last-time, her lips lingering as she sucked on his cheek. "..."

"Mwah, alright I will stop."

Nikolai couldn't trust her words, despite how sincere her eyes looked—he just couldn't allow himself to lower his broken guard. I lost to this naughty minx—even with his best efforts, the beautiful mermaid managed to slip through his strongest resistances.

"This is the problem. What do you think about it?" he started to dictate and explain the events from the pier facing Lunaria and the current situation.

Amphitrite's face became distorted and transformed into various types of expression: happy, interested, worried and finally understanding. Time passed as he continued to mull over his thoughts and repeated himself, confused and conflicted but she listened quietly and refrained from any advances.

"So what do you think?" he asked, leaning back and sipping the now lukewarm hot chocolate, his face scrunching at the disgusting flavour that became overly bitter and watery.

"I..." she paused.

Though she wanted to give a simple answer, she needed to take this seriously, and this wasn't something random but a subject close to Nikolai's heart. Amphitrite examined Nikolai's state, watching him drink the cold chocolate with a miserable face, then gazing at the half-eaten sandwich from the corner of his gaze.

"Well, if I was in her shoes, I would be desperate to stay alive. But... I understand her feelings and how she feels," she said, trying to find her words while speaking slowly.

That's when Nikolai realised his mistake and covered his mouth, "Sorry, I was a little..."

"No, it's okay. You didn't upset me," Amphitrite whispered calmly, lowering her eyes. Amphitrite's fingers caressed Nikolai's hands, running her fingertips along his wrist with care before tracing back up to his shoulder. "Do you want to save her?" she asked while inspecting his face.

Nikolai gulped down what remained in the cup, placed it on the small nightstand next to his seat and reached for Amphitrite's shoulder. "How?"

"I mean..." Amphitrite smiled, wiping the side of Nikolai's lips with her thumb. "You are a very resourceful man and have a lot of connections, and there's one body you could use, right?" she asked cautiously.

Her words slowly sank into his thoughts and mind until he realised what she meant, but it sounded crazy and made him wonder how far Amphitrite had delved into this subject.

Nikolai didn't think that far because that body was something for his mother to do with as she wished.

But... if it could solve this...

Amphitrite watched his gaze grow distant and pensive, but her face softened and started to caress his cheek. "Don't force yourself, I know you prioritise your mother."

Nikolai sighed at her words, and her kindness moved him enough that he ignored her hands stroking and molesting him. He didn't know what he wanted and still refused to admit he wanted to save the woman who tried to kill him, and the truth about Vladimir also caused Nikolai's thoughts to become complicated.

"You're so kind," she blurted, and he felt her lips press against his own. Her kiss was soft and wet, and Amphitrite hummed a little before pulling back. "There's no need for you to feel so conflicted and alone. Maybe you should speak to the other girls, and your mother."

After saying that, Amphitrite pulled away, her fingers gently wiping Nikolai's lips and cleaning his face before turning around and stepping out of the room, leaving the young man alone.

"..."

Her words lingered in his ears as she departed the room. She was right, because his mind had been too clouded to think about this properly. He couldn't rush himself into a choice, despite knowing he could save Lunaria. What if his choice ultimately cost his mother her second chance, although he wondered if there was another path able to help both?

"What should I do..."

***

Nikolai sighed and exited his room with a heavy heart. The distance to the mainland is not far. After they departed from the island, a few hours passed. Nikolai felt exhausted, but the atmosphere within the sub had quietened down.

The crew was busy at work, keeping out of sight, while he finally found Amphitrite sleeping against a wall. "what's she doing?" he asked himself.

The beautiful mermaid looked uncomfortable and seemed like she was trying to sleep but failing miserably. When Nikolai approached her, he heard a sniffling noise coming from her direction and bent down.

He couldn't help but take off his jacket and wrap it around her shoulders. "Silly woman, you should have just slept on my bed."