Moon Lovers: Bound by Blood and Revenge

"Alaric…" There was a sullen look in Raizel's eyes as he remembered Kira.

Raizel extended his hand to Marceline for a handshake. He wanted to try if he could see something by touching her. Raizel's mind-reading ability was not that strong but he wanted to test her. He was also curious about what Marceline was thinking about him or her impression of him.

On the other hand, Marceline paused for a moment, contemplating whether to accept it or not. Since Raizel seemed to be harmless, she still accepted his hand in the end. 

Furthermore, Stella's instinct didn't detect any danger or malice coming from Raizel so Marceline eased up a little bit.

However, the moment their hands touched each other, Raizel frowned and loosened his grip as he felt an unknown force, electrocuted his palm. He immediately retreated his hand, hiding the burned mark from Marceline.

'What had just happened? I couldn't even see through her mind. I can't read her mind. Why?' Raizel mused to himself.

With Raizel's strange behavior, Marceline just watched him in confusion. 'Is he a neat freak who doesn't want to be touched by others? Is he suffering from mysophobia?' She raised her eyebrow at that thought.

Raizel was also giving her a weird look. His mind seemed to be preoccupied by something. He was wondering where that force came from and why the hell he couldn't penetrate her mind. 

"Now, can you answer my question? How can you save my grandpa? Do you think Scarlet Heart Inc can help my grandpa recover? Do you know any hospitals in the Western Countries that have technologies and equipment that can treat my grandpa?" Marceline brought this topic up again. 

This was the main reason she decided to meet Raizel. She was hoping he could do something to make her grandpa survive.

"Yes, I have a way to save him. Do you trust me? If you do, you have to agree with me. But my method is the last and only resort in treating him at his current worst condition," Raizel warned Marceline, giving her a heads-up.

Just like Kira, Raizel was thinking of turning Grandpa Roland into a vampire. But it was too risky. They were not certain if Grandpa Roland could retain his sane mind after becoming a vampire.

The worst case scenario would be Grandpa Roland becoming a bloodsucker who only thought about consuming blood, feeding on people! He might become a complete monster as he was not a pureblood vampire.

Kira already explained this to Marceline and she didn't want this method. But Raizel wouldn't care about her opinion. Though he was asking her now, Raizel already decided to turn Grandpa Roland into a vampire.

He would take the risk because he couldn't lose him, the only gatekeeper who sided with the vampire clan. They needed him to stay alive.

But once Grandpa Roland became a vampire, he would no longer be a gatekeeper. Only a human could become a gatekeeper. Vampires, werewolves, and witches didn't have the power to open the portals. The Moon Goddess only bestowed this special power to ordinary humans!

In this situation, Raizel just wanted to use Grandpa Roland to make Marceline become their ally. He thought Marceline could become the gatekeeper, not knowing that Marceline was a werewolf. She was not qualified to become a gatekeeper. 

"What kind of method are you referring to?" Marceline asked him. She could feel that Raizel was hiding something from her. She started to have doubts about him.

Raizel just stared at her for a long moment, assessing her. He couldn't tell her yet about his real plan. 

What if Marceline would be scared once she found out he was a vampire? Raizel didn't want that to happen. 

"I can't tell you for now. But I can only promise one thing… I will do my best to make him survive and stay alive," Raizel said to her meaningfully.

Marceline remained silent. She was still undecided whether to trust him fully or not. This was their first encounter and Raizel being secretive about his method gave her room for doubts.

"Let me think about it yet… if I should entrust my grandfather's life to you… or not. I don't know you so I am still doubting you right now. You might be doing this for an ulterior motive," Marceline blatantly said, being frank towards Raizel.

Raizel could only smile at her. If other women could see this kind of smile, they might fall for him deeply. His charisma was also overflowing. Fortunately, Marceline already met Kira. She was already immune to this kind of masculine beauty.

'She is as wise as her grandfather. She's also frank and honest. They are similar in many ways. No wonder Roland Zhou  wants to pamper her so much and protect her at all costs.'

"I understand." Raizel simply said. He was thinking that he could gain her trust easily, especially if he would reveal the truth that he was the man who rescued her in the river. He was thinking that Marceline would feel indebted to him for saving her life.

They were still in the middle of their conversation when Raizel received a call from the main headquarters. Upon seeing the caller ID, his expression changed for a moment before it turned back to normal. The person who was calling him was none other than Lady Victoria, the second highest in command in the Vampire Clan.

Instead of answering the phone, Raizel spoke to Marceline.

"Miss Zhou, I'm afraid I can't stay here longer. I have to leave me. Please think it over." 

Raizel picked something inside his jacket's pocket, handing it over to Marceline.

"This is my contact details. Feel free to reach out to me if you need anything. Again, take your time and think about what you will do to save your grandpa."

Marceline bobbed her head in agreement before accepting the calling card which contained Raizel's contact details and address.

Soon, the two of them decided to leave the rooftop, going in different ways. Marceline would go back to the ICU while Raizel would go to his current hideout. He would call Victoria back along the way.

Both Raizel and Marceline took the same lift. The elevator stopped at the 4th floor where the ICU was located. Marceline said goodbye to Raizel before stepping out of the elevator.

The elevator door was about to close when someone appeared from Marceline's behind. It was Kira! However, Kira and Raizel didn't see each other as Kira's gaze was fixed on Marceline while Raizel was looking at his phone, typing a message for Victoria. The two men just missed each other!

"I was supposed to go to the rooftop to check on you. Fortunately, you came back now. You know, I can't wait for thirty minutes. You should have asked me to come with you rather than telling me to wait," Kira lamented to her.

Marceline could only look at him helplessly. She was not a weak woman. She was strong and she could fight back. He didn't have to worry about her all the time. She could protect herself.

"Calm down, Ki. Nothing bad will happen to me. Let's go back. I want to stay with Grandpa. I will tell you later about the guy whom I met on the rooftop."

"A guy? Is he old or young?" Kira asked her curiously.

"A young one," Marceline nonchalantly responded. They were now walking side by side, going back to Grandpa Roland's ICU room.

"Is he handsome?" Kira continued asking her.

"He is good-looking and charismatic," Marceline answered him truthfully.

Kira suddenly came to a halt when he heard that. A flicker of jealousy flashed in his eyes as his expression darkened.

"How about me?"

This time Marceline also stopped on her track and turned around to face Kira. "How about you???"

"Am I charismatic too? Who is more handsome and good-looking between him and me?"

Marceline didn't know whether to cry or laugh because of Kira's questions. She just raised her eyebrow, giving him an 'Are-you-serious?' kind of look. She didn't expect that Kira had this childish side also.

"Are you jealous?" Marceline asked him.

"No. I'm just asking," Kira said, denying it.

Amusement flickered in her emerald eyes that were looking at him intently. In a flash, Marceline grabbed Kira, pinning him on the wall.

Not allowing him to react, Marceline sealed his lips with her own lips. She kissed him in the hospital hallway!

Marceline seized his mouth with savage intensity, letting him know that he didn't have to be jealous of someone. The tip of her tongue slipped in between her lips into his mouth, teasing him with sensuous movements.

She was kissing him roughly, her aggressive kiss held him captive. Kira could only return the kiss with equal passion, savoring the sweetness of her lips and tongue.

The kiss lasted for a few minutes, making them breathless. The two just stopped when Marceline needed to gasp some air.

"Are you… still jealous?" Marceline asked him in between her pants. She raised her forefinger, tracing and caressing the corners of his lips.

Kira's gaze fixed on her lips, still wanting for more. He missed getting intimate with her. For the past few days, they had been so busy dealing with serious problems that they didn't have time to act sweetly and intimately towards each other.

"Who said I'm jealous? No one is jealous." Kira said, feigning innocence.

Marceline shook her head helplessly. Kira was so stubborn.. He would never admit that he was jealous.