Ima's fear continued to grow.
She still couldn't recover from the impact of that terrifying dream.
As soon as morning came, she hurried toward Rex in a state of panic.
Rex was busy with his work when he saw her pale face.
His heart sank.
"Ima... what happened...?" he asked, grabbing her hands tightly.
Ima's eyes welled up with tears. In a broken, trembling voice, she described the terrifying dream she had seen.
Hearing her words, Rex heard her story, he stood frozen for a moment.
Although he tried to comfort her, fear began to grow inside him as well.
"What if... what if this is a warning? We need to be careful..."
He recalled hearing somewhere that things seen in dreams often foreshadowed events yet to come.
"You need to move out of there as soon as possible. Don't go back to that bungalow, it's dangerous." he urged.
"I can't do that, Rex. I have to stay there. The ancient books detailing the remedies I need are kept there, I can't carry them away. Besides, I still need Lord Mephisto's help to find those herbs..." As she spoke, Rex felt utterly conflicted.
He couldn't bring himself to leave her alone in that eerie bungalow. Until now, he had assumed Professor Victor would protect her, but he could no longer hold onto that belief. If her dream meant anything, that man was far from innocent.
Finally, he came to a decision. Realizing that danger could strike at any moment, he agreed to go back to the bungalow with her.
---------------------
That night, Rex stayed in Ima's room with her. Outside, a heavy blanket of snow was falling. Gazing out through the window pane, Rex slowly turned and walked toward her.
The lingering terror on Ima's face deeply unsettled him. She hadn't spoken a single word to him, completely frozen by fear. His only goal now was to wash away that dread and bring a smile back to her face.
Placing a gentle hand on her trembling shoulders, he smiled playfully as she snapped her head around in surprise.
"Why are you so scared when you have a poor, innocent vampire standing guard right here...?" he whispered softly near her ear.
With his fingers, he gently brushed back the long strands of hair falling over her face.
"Are you still going to sit there looking terrified? Is that why I came back here with you...?" he asked with a warm smile, making Ima look up at him in surprise.
Taking her hand, he spun her around gently...
"Look, Ima... this is our castle. I am the King, you are the Queen... Mephisto is our servant, and so is your Professor..."
He said with a mischievous grin. In spite of herself, a faint smile blossomed on Ima's lips.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, Rex pulled her close against his chest...
"Ima... as long as I am by your side, no force in this world can touch you. Not Professor Victor, not even Lord Mephisto himself, I will protect you from everyone..."
He pressed a soft kiss onto her forehead.
This guy would probably run for his life at the mere sight of Mephisto's shadow... he's terrified of him. And here he is, boasting like a hero... Ima thought to herself, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.
"Hey, Are you laughing because you think I don't have any courage...?" Rex pouted, puffing his cheeks.
"Oh no, did I offend you...?" Ima stepped closer, gently cupping his adorable face in her hands.
As her fingers caressed his cheeks, Rex's mock annoyance melted away in an instant. Beneath the flickering candlelight, the hypnotic gleam in her eyes intoxicated his senses.
Leaning down slowly, Rex brought his face closer to hers. His warm breath brushed against her lips, making Ima's heart flutter wildly. Forgetting all her fears, she completely surrendered to his presence.
Rex gently pressed his lips against her full, crimson lips. As he drank in the sweet warmth of her mouth, he lost all track of reality.
Every trace of sorrow lingering in her mind dissolved into thin air. Rex's strong arms pulled her even closer, holding her tight, while Ima wrapped her hands firmly around his neck.
Ima squeezed her eyes shut. The passion blooming from her soft, wet lips drove Rex into a state of sheer ecstasy. After a long, lingering kiss, they reluctantly pulled apart, panting for air.
Ima's cheeks flushed crimson with shy warmth. Gently guiding her, he helped her sit on the bed...
"Now sleep peacefully, Ima. I am right here with you..." Rex said, pulling the heavy blanket over her.
Ima held his hand tightly, unable to let him go.
"Lie down next to me, Rex... I'm scared to sleep alone." she requested softly. Unable to deny her plea, he lay down right beside her.
Ima rested her head gently on his chest, and Rex wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. The warmth radiating from his body poured a deep, comforting peace into her soul.
As Rex softly stroked her hair, Ima quickly drifted off to sleep. Soon after, he too succumbed to exhaustion and fell fast asleep.
Outside, the snow continued to fall, accompanied by the eerie howling of the wind. And right outside their room, someone was standing silently in the dark... waiting for them to fall asleep.
To be continued...
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