chapter 246 - We Are the Same
Wofoo’s face paled.
Not a blush of embarrassment, but a sickly white, a sign of deep shame and humiliation. She harbored no goodwill towards pure-blooded vampires, and Adele, surrounded by some of the most powerful and influential young vampires in Twilight City, was clearly one of them.
Wofoo had observed Adele from the shadows, noting the deference shown to her by Dorothy, the Vampire Princess; Hermione, heir to a powerful True Ancestor; and Sharon and Celeste, their love for Adele evident in their every glance. It was clear that Adele was no ordinary girl. Her bloodline, her status, must be far more pure and noble than Wofoo could imagine, a stark contrast to Wofoo’s own lowly position as a mixed-blood at the bottom of vampire society. They were worlds apart, their paths never meant to cross.
And yet, here was Adele, asking to touch her ears… no, not asking, demanding. It couldn’t be a request; Wofoo wasn’t worthy of such consideration. The thought filled her with a familiar wave of shame and despair. But even so, she wouldn’t dare to refuse. So, her face pale, she removed her cap, revealing her pointed, furry ears, her shoulders trembling slightly, her eyes downcast.
“P-please… Miss Adele,” she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. “They’re a bit dirty, I’m worried I’ll soil your hands. If you need water to clean them, I’ll bring some for you. Please… please don’t hurt me, I beg you.”
Her words were laced with a desperate humility, a self-deprecation born from years of abuse and neglect. She offered to fetch water, fearing the slightest offense, begging for mercy, her every action a desperate attempt to avoid further humiliation. Wofoo had nothing of value to lose, nothing she couldn’t bear to part with, except her life. She wanted to survive in this city of vampires, and any scrap of respect, any kindness shown to her, was a blessing. Obedience was the key to survival.
Few, if any, had ever shown her the kind of attention Adele was now giving her. At most, she was treated like an animal in a zoo, a source of amusement for bored nobles. She had even been forced to crawl on the ground and bark like a dog, a humiliation she endured silently, her heart a cold, empty void.
Adele, hearing Wofoo’s words, froze, her eyes wide with surprise. She stared at the girl, at the fear in her eyes, but beneath that fear, deep within, she sensed a flicker of defiance, a spark of the true Wofoo, the indomitable wolf spirit hidden beneath layers of carefully constructed subservience.
A cold sweat trickled down Wofoo’s back. She feared this kind of girl the most, the kind whose intentions were unreadable. It bred terrifying possibilities, and the anticipation of pain was often worse than the pain itself. And if those possibilities threatened Wofoo’s life… the beast within her, the one she kept chained and locked away, would break free, unleashing a terrifying fury.
Suddenly, Adele moved.
Wofoo’s heart leaped into her throat. She saw a pale hand reaching towards her. A wave of relief washed over her; whatever Adele intended—to touch her ears, her hair, to slap her, to make her bark—she would accept it. It meant she was of use, a source of amusement, a way to survive in this world of vampires.
Wofoo closed her eyes, bracing herself.
But the expected touch, the anticipated sting of a slap, never came. Instead, a gentle touch brushed against her cheek, soft as a flower petal, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance. Like a butterfly landing, light and hesitant.
“Why are you crying?” Adele asked, her voice soft and concerned. “If you don’t want me to touch your ears, just tell me. I do like them, but I’m more worried about you. Did… did that hurt?”
Adele’s hand moved down, hesitantly at first, then gently caressed Wofoo’s left cheek. A warm, green light flickered at Adele’s fingertips as she channeled her rudimentary healing magic, learned from First Snow. The scratch on Wofoo’s cheek slowly began to fade. Wofoo could have healed herself with her vampire blood, but she hadn’t, perhaps out of fear of angering Wen Xi, or perhaps because she was so accustomed to carrying her scars that she no longer cared. If it was the latter… then Wofoo was truly pitiful, her situation far worse than even Adele’s had been. Adele, after all, lived in a mixed community of humans and vampires. Wofoo, however, existed in the heart of the vampire world, surrounded by their casual cruelty.
Adele noticed the tears welling in Wofoo’s eyes, tears the girl herself hadn’t even realized she was shedding.
Wofoo opened her eyes, staring at the gentle girl before her in disbelief.
Her voice was hoarse, as if she had just learned to speak.
“…Why…?”
W-was this… some kind of new game?
Wofoo couldn’t understand.
She had never experienced this before.
Why would Miss Adele, a noble vampire, care about her…?
It could only be a new game, right?
A crueler kind, giving her hope, gaining her trust, and then plunging her into despair?
But despite this possibility, Wofoo’s heart couldn’t help but lean towards another, incredibly small possibility.
Could it be…
That Adele was sincere?
That she genuinely cared?
“Why what?” Adele asked, tilting her head in a cute display of confusion. But then, her expression softened, a warm smile spreading across her face as she took Wofoo’s hand in hers. Was it from being ordered around too much, from doing too much manual labor? The girl’s palms were rough, calloused from years of servitude. Adele’s touch was gentle, almost hesitant.
“If you really want to ask why…”
“Maybe… it’s because we’re the same.”
“The… same?” Wofoo’s voice was barely a whisper, everything about Adele, her words, her actions, a mystery she couldn’t comprehend.
“Yes, the same,” Adele replied, her gaze locking with Wofoo’s. They were both mixed-bloods, both outcasts, both carrying the scars of past humiliations.
“It’s not convenient to talk here, let’s go inside.”
Adele’s smile was irresistible, and she led Wofoo towards the dance floor, her hand firmly clasped in Adele’s.
They found a quiet corner and sat down.
Then Adele told Wofoo about her past, her voice soft and sincere, hoping to earn the girl’s trust. She recognized the look in Wofoo’s eyes, the same mix of fear and resignation she had once carried herself. Beneath that carefully constructed facade, she sensed a yearning for acceptance, for a companion, for someone to see the strength hidden within. Wofoo had also thought about resisting, about refusing to be bullied and ordered around, but the harsh reality had taught her to hide those feelings, even to forget them.
“So, my past… wasn’t much better than yours,” Adele said, her gaze meeting Wofoo’s. “In their eyes, we’re just… toys.”
“But it will all pass, Wofoo. Stay strong.”
“Adele…” Wofoo’s voice trembled, her eyes welling up with tears. Although Adele hadn’t offered any proof, her sincerity shone through, and Wofoo couldn’t bring herself to doubt her.
And Adele was indeed telling the truth.
She was genuinely empathetic, especially towards Wofoo, who wanted to touch her ears.
Although First Snow also had fluffy ears, wolf ears seemed bigger, softer, and more fun to pet!
She wondered if First Snow would be jealous if she knew how Adele felt.
But even if she was, Adele could easily coax her back.
“Don’t look like you’re about to cry,” Adele said gently, wiping away a tear that escaped Wofoo’s eye.
“I’m actually very happy today, to have met you.”
“Wofoo, don’t lose heart, don’t give up, you’ll have a better future.”
Wofoo sniffed and nodded, deeply touched.
“Actually, all I want… is respect. I’m also a part of the vampire race, although many people might not acknowledge it, but I also want to contribute to the vampire race…”
Wofoo couldn’t continue, tears streaming down her face.
Adele, moved by her words, got up and went to Wofoo’s side, pulling the girl’s head into her arms, offering her unprecedented warmth and comfort.
At this moment, words were superfluous.
Just an embrace was enough.
Just a little warmth was enough.
Dorothy, Hermione, Celeste, and Sharon, who were not far away, all looked at this scene with complex emotions.
As for why Edith wasn’t there, it was because she was with Lady Chen Xi.
Wasn’t this… “flirting in front of the harem”?
Adele’s blatant flirting in front of them was a bit too arrogant.
Although she claimed it was to comfort Wofoo…
They couldn’t help but feel a little doubtful.
Was it because Adele’s true nature was gradually being exposed to them?
But even if her promiscuous nature was exposed, the girls still loved her as before.
“I understand how Adele feels,” Hermione suddenly said.
Celeste, surprisingly, agreed with Hermione.
“Yes, two people with similar experiences, comforting each other.”
“Adele, is she the first ray of light in that girl’s dark world?”
To Celeste, wasn’t her master also a ray of light in her own world?
Dorothy remained silent, unable to comment.
She couldn’t say anything.
After all, if they really wanted to trace it back…
Who was responsible for Adele’s past suffering – didn’t she have any self-awareness!?
“They’re leaving, where are they going?” Sharon suddenly said, blinking.
“Should… should we stop Adele?” Dorothy couldn’t help but ask.
After all… Adele should belong to them today.
Hermione glanced at her coldly, thinking, She still hasn’t learned her lesson.
The girl made a rational and calm judgment.
“Don’t panic, Adele doesn’t intend to leave the banquet hall.”
“Where she and Wofoo are going… seems to be the bathroom.”
“The bathroom!?” Dorothy exclaimed.
“They just met, and they’re… already doing that!?”
“Stop overthinking it!”
“I trust Adele.”
“I trust Master too.”
In short, the four vampire girls could only watch as Adele took Wofoo’s hand and led her towards the bathroom in the banquet hall, then drowned their sorrows in alcohol.
………………
In the bathroom, the girl’s breathing was erratic.
“Really… are you going to touch… there?”
It was Wofoo’s first time being so eagerly desired and needed…
She felt both shy and a little excited.
She had a very low self-esteem, so if she was truly needed and cared for, not just used and ordered around…
Wofoo would be very happy.
“Of course, we’ve already come this far.”
“You’re not going to ruin my fun, are you, Wofoo?”
Adele pouted, looking a little aggrieved.
With this expression, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) almost no girl could resist her pitiful act.
Wofoo quickly surrendered.
“Then… then you do it, Adele, ugh…!”
After a while, uncontrollable moans came from the bathroom.
Even the people outside could hear…