015. Enjoying A Ride

For nearly an hour, Nadezhda sat tensely in the passenger seat next to Litsi, her fingers gripping the edge of the seat as the woman maneuvered the car with reckless abandon. The world outside rushed by in a blur, the scenery flashing past the window like fragments of a dream. Every turn and acceleration sent a jolt of unfamiliar sensations through Nadezhda’s body. She had never experienced anything like this—a machine that moved with such speed and power, carrying her through a world she had only glimpsed from the shadows.
As daylight poured into the car, illuminating the once-hidden corners of the world, Nadezhda’s tension began to ease, replaced by a growing sense of wonder. The sunlit landscape stretched out before her, vibrant and alive, each detail more vivid than the last. Trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves shimmering in the golden light. Fields of wildflowers painted the earth in a riot of colors, and distant mountains loomed like ancient sentinels guarding the horizon.
It was the first time Nadezhda had ventured outside her darkened hideout during the day, and the beauty of it all left her in awe. She had spent so long in the shadows, hidden from the world, that she had almost forgotten how mesmerizing it could be. The sky was a vast expanse of blue, dotted with soft, white clouds that drifted lazily across it. The sunlight breaking through the clouds seemed almost surreal, a beauty she hadn't witnessed in centuries.
But even as she marveled at the scenery, a part of her remained on edge, aware of the dangers that daylight could bring. Litsi, however, seemed utterly unconcerned, her laughter echoing through the car as she weaved through traffic with the same carefree attitude she had displayed all night. To her, this was all a game—a wild, exhilarating ride through a world that belonged to her, where rules and consequences held no meaning.
"Just relax and enjoy the ride, sweetie," Litsi said, her eyes fixed on the road ahead, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "But don’t you dare fart! This car will break down and suddenly stop if you do."
"I don’t break wind, Lady Litsi," Nadezhda protested, her voice tinged with a mix of embarrassment and defensiveness. "I can’t, even if I wanted to."
"Hmm… it seems like you have the urge to rip one out, eh?" Litsi teased, her chuckle filling the small space with a mischievous lightness.
"What? N–no!" Nadezhda’s face betrayed an emotion for the first time—her beauty becoming even more striking as her expression reflected genuine embarrassment. "I don’t even have the urge to eat or to sleep."
"That’s too bad," Litsi sighed theatrically. "Some humans love it when a beautiful woman farts."
"Not where I came from," Nadezhda countered, her voice softening as she recalled a distant past. "Breaking wind is considered a shame, especially for women."
"So, you were human after all," Litsi concluded, her tone shifting from playful to curious. "Tell me, if you no longer feel hunger, why did you kill the ugly man? You seemed too nice to kill for pleasure."
Nadezhda froze for a moment, her hands clasping tightly in her lap. Her eyes, usually so calm and clear, clouded with regret and sorrow, emotions that ran deeper than Litsi had anticipated.
"I needed his marrow to repair this form," the young woman confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
The admission hung heavy in the air, and there was something in the way she clenched her hands, something almost desperate, that made Litsi realize there was more to the story—something Nadezhda wasn’t ready to reveal. The woman studied her with a knowing gaze, her earlier amusement giving way to a quieter understanding. Whatever Nadezhda was hiding, it was a burden she carried with a weight that seemed too much for her slender shoulders.
"If it makes you feel any better, the man was trying to harass you," Litsi revealed. "I heard him say in French that he wanted to see your pussy, and he even tried to grope your cute round ass—right before you killed him with your, uh, fart, or whatever it was that made the back of your dress wave."
Nadezhda turned toward the woman. There was a slight discomfort in her expression as Litsi casually used words taboo in her culture. Still, a hint of gratitude flickered in her eyes. "It's... it's part of my body, like a tail, used to absorb his marrow."
"You should've told me sooner. If you had, I wouldn't have accused you of farting," Litsi said, her laughter ringing out with genuine amusement.
Nadezhda's face, for the first time, softened into a sweet smile. The corners of her lips turned up, and her eyes brightened with a warmth enhanced its beauty.
"Hey! You're so beautiful when you smile!" Litsi exclaimed, her tone full of genuine admiration. Her eyes widened with delight. "You should do it more often!"
Hearing that, Nadezhda's smile widened, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth. She felt a rare sense of comfort in Litsi's presence. The woman's carefree and outspoken demeanor was a stark contrast to Nadezhda's usual reserve, yet it felt as if Litsi completed her in an unexpectedly perfect way.
"You promised to tell me about yourself," Nadezhda reminded her gently.
"Did I?" Litsi teased, her tone light and playful. But her giggles betrayed her facade. "You know, my sweet Nadezhda, since you're so adorable, I've decided to show you who I really am instead."
Just as she finished her sentence, Litsi guided the car smoothly into the parking lot of a sleek, high-rise apartment building. The luxurious surroundings—gleaming glass facades and polished marble—contrasted sharply with Nadezhda's growing unease. As Litsi parked, several pedestrians paused, their curious glances lingering on the car. The subtle shift in their expressions, from casual interest to subtle scrutiny, triggered a fresh wave of anxiety in Nadezhda. Her experiences had taught her that people in that era were far more easily startled and prone to aggression than those from her own time, a realization that only heightened her discomfort.
"Don't worry," Litsi reassured Nadezhda, sensing her unease. "When we get out of the car, they’ll stare at you because you're wearing a nightgown without slippers or any other footwear. Other than that, those humans are harmless."
"What are we doing here?" Nadezhda asked, her concern deepening. "Didn't you say you’re not human? Aren’t you supposed to stay away from them, like I did?"
Litsi chuckled, leaning over to place a gentle kiss on Nadezhda's cheek. "I’m a bit hungry," she said with a playful glint in her eye. "And those humans are my food."