"So...why are we back in Lilith?" I asked.

Here we were, standing in the city one hour before the dance started. The lights of the city brightened the dark night. Yes, it was night. The whole group was here, standing in the bustling city. It was busy, and it was this late.

Today is the day of the Blood Ball. October 31st. The Blood Ball started at 10 for some reason, and we were here at 9 for some reason. And honestly, I can't wait. I've only been too a few dances, like the High School Homecoming, but they were fun.

Except for the inappropriate dancing circles and the walls that were quite literally sweating. It was so hot there...

"You've had some interesting experiences..." Sally commented.

Oh, and Sally's here too. I mean, she is stuck in my head.

All of us, except Sally, are in some fancy clothes. I'm wearing the ones that I had picked out at Twy's Designs. It was a fancy red suit with a black tie.

Really fancy...never thought I'd be wearing something like this...

"Well, the only transport to the Dark Empire is through the train in Lilith. You wouldn't want to walk all the way there, now would you?" Smiled Madam Webb.

I would not like to walk there.

Looking around at our party, I noticed that to my left Brutus was shaking.

"Hey, you alright?" I asked him.

"I-I'm okay. I-I'm just scared of large cities..." Brutus stuttered.

That's...interesting...

"It will be fine." I smiled, patting his shoulder. "We're all here with you."

"T-thanks..." Smiled Brutus.

"Jack! Pat me too!" Krystal demanded, pouting on my right.

"Alright, alright..." I sighed.

I pat her on the shoulder.

"..." Krystal just blankly stared at me. "Really...?

"I know, I'm amazingly funny." I joked.

"Good one." John commented, stifling a chuckle.

Our fists met each other in a fist bump.

"That's right. Headpats are reserved for me, his girlfriend." Smugly replied Anna, sliding besides me.

I slightly pat Anna on her head. A light smile graced her face.

Do girls actually enjoy this...?

"They use it to assert dominance." Sally informed.

Wait...really?

"Not fair!" Pouted Krystal.

"Agreed!" Pouted Angela.

"I would have liked one..." Sapphire muttered, so low that I almost missed the words.

Well, I guess they do.

...

This is getting awkward.

"We should head over to the train! We don't want to be late to the Blood Ball!" I suddenly added, trying to change the conversation.

"Yes, let's get going." Anna said, wrapping her arm around mine.

Do you really have to antagonize them so much...?

Anna wore a beautiful sparkling blue dress which complemented her eyes. She wore black high heels which she somehow walked perfectly in. Her hair was done, and her eyelashes were more defined than usual.

The wonders of makeup that a man like me shall never understand...

Honestly, she was really...pretty...

Like, really pretty...

"Stop staring and start walking." Sally interrupted my admiration of my girlfriend.

Our group started to walk through Lilith, shortly reaching the train station. Giving the tickets at the counter, we boarded the train to the Dark Empire.

I sat on the train, looking outside the window. The train started to move, allowing the scenery to flash by. Seeing the fiery plains and the lava lakes reminded me that this place really is Hell. Outside of the cities, it was a hot wasteland.

Will I go to hell once I die...?

"Maybe not..." I heard Sally mutter in my head.

What?

"Nothing." Sally replied.

Okay then...

Anyways, it's too early to think like that. I don't plan to die soon. Even if I do end up getting in more fights. With this System, I should be okay.

Unless I die to one of the monster girls.

I just hope one isn't a yandere or else...

Let's just not go there.

At some point during this little inner monologue of mine I fell asleep, because soon enough Anna was shaking me awake. Yawning, I opened my eyes to see that we had arrived at the Dark Empire.

"Thanks." I told Anna.

"No problem." She smiled.

Getting off of the train, we were now in the outskirts of the Dark Empire.

Wow, it's so different from Lilith...

And there are a LOT of vampires. I just hope one doesn't decide to try to snack on me.

Or is vampires drinking blood false? Like a stereotype or something?

"Vampires do indeed drink blood." Sally informed.

Ah, okay then.

We walked through the streets of the outskirts of the Dark Empire, heading to the giant black castle in the middle of the empire.

Reaching a wall which surrounded the castle, Madam Webb showed the guards the two invites. The guards lowered the gate, allowing us passage.

Walking through the courtyard of the castle, I admired the intricately trimmed bushes.

Whoever did those did an amazing job. They were trimmed to look like people. Maybe the previous kings and queens...?

The courtyard looked amazing. With the bright green grass, the bush people, and the vines crawling up the stone walls, it gave an amazing atmosphere.

This place is cool.

We entered the castle through the doors in front, now in a giant hall. Two sets of stairs led up to the next floor, leaving a hallway in between them to further in the castle. There was a door to the right and left, and a crimson red carpet which covered the floor. A large glass chandelier hung from the roof. Across the walls heading up the stairs were pictures of previous kings and queens, hung in picture frames.

A single butler stood in the large room.

A real butler! They're real!

"The Ball Room is straight ahead, the final door at the end of the hallway." The butler stated.

"Thank you." Madam Webb replied.

We walked through the hallway in between the stairs. Passing doors, we finally arrived at a large set of doors at the end of the hallway.

Madam Webb pushed them open, and we entered a room larger than the last one.

You know your school gym? Yeah, it's larger than that. Maybe double the size.

This place is huge!

It was a giant room similar to a gymnasium, with a circular glass ceiling which showed the night sky. Tables were strewn around the walls, with an empty dance floor in the middle of the room. Two sets of stairs led to a second floor which was like a balcony, wrapped around the walls. A grand set of doors stood at of the top of the stairs.

The incredibly grand room had an incredibly grand chandelier to match it, one larger than the one I had seen moments before. It really is breathtaking...

Many people stood around talking to each other or dancing. Fancy dancing though, of course. Some people grabbed food from a buffet, before sitting down at seats and eating the food.

I pulled out my phone to check the time, seeing that it was a little past ten. The party started at ten, but it wasn't required to be there at ten, so all was good.

I stuck my hand out to Anna. It's time to conduct the plan.

"Care for a dance?" I asked her.

"I would love to." She smiled, placing her hand in mine.

As I led her to the dance floor, I saw the other girl's envious looks. I should dance with them later.

Really, it's moments like these that reminds me that somehow all of these girls are in love with me. Me.

I'm a nobody. Was a nobody.

Well, I guess not anymore.

...That's hard to wrap my head around.

And to think that they will be in love with me forever...I think that's what Sally said about when their meter hits 100...

Truly a cruel fate. I'm starting to wonder if a harem route might be better...

Well, in order for that to happen I need both Anna's support and me to feel feelings for them. I'm not going to get into a relationship with someone I don't love. That's cruel.

Shaking myself out of my complicated thoughts, I arrived on the dance floor with Anna.

She really is...stunning.

"You're beautiful." I commented.

"Aww...thanks." She blushed.

I placed my hands on her hips, while she wrapped her arms around my head. We started to dance with the others.

I'm glad I practiced for this moment!

"I got second hand embarrassment from watching you and Brutus practicing dancing together." Sally commented.

Surprisingly Brutus is a natural. Maybe he can get a girl with his superb dancing skills.

We danced to the slow music, staring into each other eyes. As cringy as it sounds, she really is the center of my world right now.

And also the center of my vision. I can't stop staring at her.

Leaning in, I pressed my lips against hers in a kiss.

I stepped back, pulling an item out of my pocket.

"What is that?" Anna asked.

I opened my palm, showing her the item in my hand.

It was the necklace I bought for her.

Anna gasped in surprise.

I placed it around her neck, latching it together behind her neck.

"How is it?" I asked.

"I love it...I love it..." She smiled, small tears pulling at the end of her eyes.

I wiped the tears away, before kissing her once more.

I love her...

"Everybody, the Royal Family!" A butler suddenly announced loudly.

Time seemed to freeze as everybody stopped what they were doing to look at the doors at the top of the stairs that opened. Through them walked a man woman, and-

Is that the jewelry girl vampire?! She was a princess?!

"Makes sense why they wanted her." Sally added.

She's a princess?! What the hell?!

The spotlight was on them as they walked down. And I swear, I saw her eyes glance towards me. Does she remember me?

They walked down the steps, before stopping at the bottom of them. A butler handed the man a mic.

He coughed, before tapping the mic.

"I would like to thank all of you for coming to this annual Blood Ball. This Ball will be going on all night, but I encourage you all to stay at least to midnight, where the real show begins." He smiled.

"Today is also a special day. My daughter, the princess, also happened to be born on the same day as the Blood Ball sixteen years ago. Today is her sixteenth birthday, and the day she shall choose a fiancé." He stated.

That's interesting. Some sort of tradition?

The princess looked around, before her eyes locked onto mine. She walked through the crowd, which moved to the side to allow her passage.

She's walking my direction! Is she walking towards me?!

She kept walking towards me, before standing in front of me. Up close, now I could really notice how pretty she was.

She wore a crimson red dress, which complemented her blood red eyes. She wore black bat earrings and black high heels. She was stunning, though I shouldn't be thinking that about a girl that's not my girlfriend and soon to have a fiancé.

"May I have this dance?" She politely asked me.

I glanced towards Anna, who glared angrily at me.

"We're talking about this later." Was what her look told me.

She hesitantly nodded.

I can't refuse the princess now, can I?

I took her hand, and she pulled me to the center of the dance floor, in front of everybody.

"It's been a while." She smiled.