017. An Ymvith And A Vorshk

Nadezhda's eyes widened in terror as she watched the man’s body rapidly deflate, his bloated flesh sinking inward as if something was devouring him from within. His skin clung tightly to his shrinking frame, pulling taut over his ribs, then sagging like a balloon drained of air. In a matter of seconds, the once robust man had withered into a ghastly skeleton, his dry, cracked skin hanging in loose, leathery folds over brittle bones, as if death itself had hollowed him out from the inside.
Litsi’s body arched with fluid, sensual grace, the ethereal glow from her skin casting soft shadows that accentuated every curve. Her eyes remained closed, long lashes resting gently on her cheeks, while her face tilted upward as if basking in some unseen light. Her lips, slightly parted, hinted at a soft moan that never came, an expression so inviting it could stir the deepest desires in any man. Each slow, deliberate breath she took only heightened her magnetic allure, yet beneath her beauty was an unsettling edge, as though the radiance she exuded was not born of warmth, but something darker and far more dangerous.
As the light faded and her skin returned to its living fairness, Litsi’s posture relaxed. She inhaled deeply, her chest rising and falling as she regained her composure, then slowly opened her eyes. With a calm, almost languid grace, she stood up, straddling the desiccated man beneath her. Her expression remained serene as she reached between her legs and grasped something hidden within.
A loud sigh escaped her lips as she pulled it out—a dried, dark-yellow, wooden-like penis. With a slight increase in pressure, it crumbled into ashes between her fingers. Instantly, the man’s corpse followed suit, unraveling into dust until only a pile of gray ashes remained where his body had once been. Unfazed, the woman casually stripped the bed sheet, letting the dust fall to the carpet before smoothing the covers and making the bed neat again. She hadn’t lied about offering special room service—she did it all while completely naked.
"Ah, you're still here, sweetie," Litsi’s usual smile returned, gracing her beauty as she noticed Nadezhda peeking. "Why are you so tense?" she asked, opening the door with casual ease.
"W-who are you?" Nadezhda’s voice trembled, a mix of apprehension and curiosity lacing her words.
Litsi chuckled heartily before answering. "I’ve told you more than once, haven’t I? I’m Litsi." She burst into laughter again, completely unbothered by her nudity, her shapely breasts jiggling with each movement.
"W-why did you kill him? I mean... how could you even do that? He didn’t do anything wrong to you. You lured him out yourself," Nadezhda stammered, her questions and disapproval blurring together.
"First of all, sweetie, as I’ve told you before, I’m not human," Litsi began, her voice calm yet carrying an edge. Despite the smile on her lips, her eyes were sharp, locking onto Nadezhda with a piercing gaze. "Second, I mentioned that humans are my food. But I never said I eat them with my mouth, did I?"
She chuckled again, but her expression soon turned serious as she continued, "Third, that man, Alain Dorléac, might not have wronged me personally, but he wronged countless women by selling them like commodities!" A blaze of anger ignited in her eyes, though it quickly softened as her sensual smile returned. "You killed a man with to repair your form, so why can’t I kill one for sustenance? I even generously let him taste heaven before dragging him down to hell," she finished with a sly chuckle.
Nadezhda stood frozen, her mind struggling to process what she had just heard. Litsi’s words were unyielding, each one landing with the force of a hammer, despite the casual, almost playful tone in which she spoke. The unsettling contrast between Litsi’s serene expression and the brutal reality of her actions left Nadezhda reeling, her thoughts swirling in a mix of fear, confusion, and disbelief.
"I am of the Ymvith kind, struggling to blend in with humans in this world," the red-haired woman revealed, her voice carrying both pride and weariness. "You said you were once human. I won’t pry into your past, but I need to know—what are you now?"
The golden-haired young woman gazed deeply into Litsi's green eyes, as if trying to determine whether she could trust her. After a long pause, she finally spoke. "My father's alchemist called us the Vorshk," she disclosed. "Like you said, we are ghosts in the machinery we call our bodies."
Litsi’s smile softened as she moved closer, her steps so fluid it was as if she were gliding across the floor. Without breaking eye contact, Litsi leaned in, her lips barely grazing Nadezhda’s forehead in a kiss that was as much a comfort as it was a blessing.
"Whatever you are, you’re a sweet and adorable girl in my eyes," she whispered, her breath warm against Nadezhda’s skin. As she pulled back, her eyes lingered on the young woman’s face, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "You mentioned you can no longer feel hunger, but can you still smell?"
"I can't, Lady Litsi," Nadezhda replied, her voice carrying a hint of regret as she shook her head. Her golden hair cascaded around her shoulders, catching the light and swaying like strands of fine silk.
"That's too bad," Litsi said, her gaze softening with pity. "Now I understand why a stunning girl like you isn’t bothered by the sharp, raw metal smell." Her eyes traced a slow path up and down Nadezhda's form, subtly gesturing toward the young woman as if to emphasize her point.
Nadezhda lifted her arms, examining each one before looking back at Litsi, confused. "Do I smell like raw metal?"
"You smell like a mix of copper, aluminum, and iron," the red-haired woman replied nonchalantly. "There’s also a hint of coal and soil, just a little."
"You can smell all that?" Nadezhda asked, genuinely surprised.
"Ymviths have sharp senses and power over locks," Litsi explained. "Now, come with me. We have a lot of work to do."
"What work, Lady Litsi?" Nadezhda asked as Litsi playfully nudged her toward an opulent bathroom.
"First, don’t call me ‘Lady.’ It makes me feel old, and that’s not nice!" Litsi wagged a finger, like a mother scolding her daughter. "Second, we need to make sure you smell, look, and act like a human girl your age—not your real age, but the one your appearance suggests."
"Why?" the young woman asked, still curious.
"Because you have to," Litsi continued, her tone firm yet calm as she entered the bathroom, gently pulling Nadezhda to follow her. "Unless you want to be hunted like an animal. Most humans fear what they don’t understand, and some find comfort in inflicting violence on what scares them."