"Are you sure?" Ashton inquired. "There'll be no turning back once it is done."
The twins stared at each other for a moment before nodding. They had already made up their minds. But their reassurances weren't enough for Ashton.
After all, they were Alucard's only daughters, and he knew very well that the Vampires took their genes and purity very seriously. Therefore, Irina and Verina converting into some other species could have lasting consequences not only on their standing but on Alucard's as well.
Their one decision could turn into a cause for disarray amongst the vampires who were Ashton's allies. Even though there were enough forces stationed on Earth that Ricochet could have handled such matters by force, Ashton didn't want things to come to that extent.
But more than that, he wanted to test the resolve of the twins. Anyone would like to get stronger by altering their genes.
That's why Ashton wanted to know if the twins were merely desperate for strength or if they had thought things through and wanted to embrace the changes with open arms.
"You are aware of the uproar it may cause, right?" Ashton continued. "Your people will not be happy with your decisions and might even try to wage war against Alucard. Are you ready to shoulder that burden yourselves?"
"We understand," Irina said. "And believe it or not, we've been thinking about this for a long time."
"After serving as mercenaries, we learned a lot, and along with it came introspection," Verina added. "And it's changed our outlook on things. We don't care about monarchy or lineage anymore. All that matters is strength."
"I see. Well, I can't say I blame you for wanting to get stronger," Ashton nodded, still lost, contemplating whether he should go ahead. "But you must remember that I'm not just changing you. I'm also changing your species. There's no guarantee that everything will go smoothly."
"We're willing to take the risk," Irina said.
"We want to be as strong as Anna," Verina said.
Ashton's eyebrows rose the moment Verina said that. They wanted him to change them because they had seen Anna get remarkably stronger once she became a succubus. There may have been more to them wishing to change than they were letting on.
"Anna is a special case. I only altered her genes because I needed to save her life." Ashton mumbled as he recalled the horrific day. "The fact that she grew exponentially resulted from her hard work, relentless dedication and a bit of luck."
Ashton lied through his teeth because since he transformed Anna into a succubus, he had grown a lot and had a lot of control over his ability. The twins were at no risk of their decision backfiring on them, but Ashton conveniently hid the fact from them.
Ashton continued after a while, "So, if you think I can make someone as strong as Anna upon my will, then you're wrong. So speak your mind now, or we can end this meeting here and pretend it never happened."
"I don't care if it was a coincidence or not," Irina said. "We still want to do it... if you'll help us."
Ashton looked at the twins for a long moment. He could see the determination in their eyes, and at that moment, he knew they were serious about this.
"Okay," he said finally. "I'll do it."
The twins smiled.
"Thank you," Irina said.
"We won't let you down," Verina chimed in.
Ashton stood up and walked over to the window. He looked out at the night sky. He knew it was a risky decision, but he also knew the twins were right.
On the cosmic scale, things like monarchy and lineage didn't matter. All that mattered was strength. After all, Ashton had experienced it firsthand in a lot of scenarios. Having made up his mind, he turned back to the twins.
"I'll need to bite you both," he said. "Once I do, your genes will start to change. It will be a slow process, but eventually, you will become a new and, probably, stronger species."
"We're ready," the twins simultaneously responded.
Verina's hand reached out, her fingers brushing against Ashton's arm, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. Irina stood beside her, her eyes locked onto Ashton's, a silent understanding passing between them.
"You know I can't bite the two of you simultaneously, right?" Ashton joked, trying to ease the situation.
[Actually, you can, and I was about to suggest that.]
'What do you mean?'
[You don't need to bite their necks, do it on their arm or somewhere you can bite both at once.]
'...I'll go for the hands.'
Slowly, Ashton took their arms and leaned in. Ashton's fangs sank into their skin. The sensation like a pin had been pushed through their skin shrouded them, followed by a warm rush of blood.
Verina and Irina held onto him tightly, their fingers digging into his arms as they gasped in surprise. The initial pain quickly gave way to a feeling of exhilaration, a surge of power that flowed through their bodies like a river. They felt stronger, faster, and more alive than ever before.
The twins could feel their senses sharpening, their vision becoming clearer, and their hearing more acute. They felt like they could do anything.
Ashton's eyes were like two radiating moons. As he held the twins in his arms, they could feel his power flowing through them, merging with their own. It was a transformative experience, blending their essences beyond the physical domain.
Their cheeks flushed red, a blush that spread through the points where Ashton had bitten them. Their skin became more vibrant and lively as if it were being infused with new life.
Time seemed to stand still as the connection between them intensified. They felt like they were one being, sharing a single soul. Their thoughts and emotions were intertwined, and they knew they would never be the same again.
And then, as quickly as it had begun, Ashton released his bite. Verina and Irina gasped and pulled back, but they could still feel the power coursing through them. They looked at each other, their eyes wide with wonder.
"Wow," Irina breathed.
"That was... incredible," Verina agreed.
They turned back to Ashton, who was smiling at them. Well, not at them, but their cutesie horns at the side of their heads.
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