Chapter 125: Sucked dry in the worst way possible

The crowd had mixed reactions. Some seemed fearful, nervous; I can see non-verbal tics among them. Some seem angry, veins popping out of their pale foreheads. Others kept a neutral, albeit thoughtful head on their shoulders.

No matter the reaction, the news hit heavy. Sadly, there is nothing I can do.

One of the vampires looks like he is about to blow; brow’s crossed, bloodshot eyes, and labored breathing. To no one’s surprise, the young man steps forward.

The youthful new face speaks. “How dare they?!” He looks around.

He speaks again. “We help the town. We take blood to live, but we return it through good deeds. We shouldn’t let ourselves be pushed around. You are the progenitor, lead us to fight them; If they dare cross us, return it seven-fold. Why do they fear those who help? Peace comes after war.” He spoke in a far calmer voice than his first statement.

I step back up to the podium, meeting the man’s eyes. “I admire your fighting spirit and your pure drive. But I don’t want to see a single one of you die. The way they react, Is understandable, if predictable. Vampires killed thousands, ruined lives and families; are race hurt theirs. You ask why they fear us? We haven’t done any good up until this point.”

I continue to meet his gaze, his defiant and battle-hungry eyes. “Yes, I want peace. And yes, war often comes before any peaceful resolutions. Yet, it wouldn’t be a war. We have so few numbers; it would be a terror attack rather than a war. First, we build our numbers slowly in the shadows. We then found our own little bit of land. And we build a vampiric country. We prove that we are good and not always evil. We prove we can help rather than hurt. And in all that, I hope peace is possible.”

He looks away, nodding slightly before returning to his seat. “If that is all, I am excused.” Stepping away from the podium before another young blood stands. I quickly disappear home.

Helt watches as all the gazes suddenly turn to him. A drop of sweat trickles down his brows as they approach like zombies. “Calm down, one at a time.” He says hesitantly. In a quieter voice, “damn it, Aeternum.”

He is then assaulted with a flurry of questions; tears and trembling voices makes the questions unbearable. He can only sigh and work through the concerned vampires.

Aeternum returns home, the thirst making itself known. “I could use a drink.”

Heading into town, I disappear with invisibility. It doesn’t take me long to find a good target. An unfamiliar guard on patrol – perfect. Mesmerizing the guard, I drink my fill. Slipping a silver into his pocket. Sending him on his way, “thank you.” I say in politeness.

I visit Cassie; the night is still young after all. With a swift knock, I hear nervous footsteps approach the door. “Who… Is it?” I hear a cautious tone.

“Aeternum.”

The door swings open, Cassie jumps into a hug. ”I see you missed me.” I say, unable to help it. She lets go in annoyance. Shooting me a dirty look while she is at it.

“So… you gonna come in or stand there all night.”

I step inside.

She quietly sits in her corner. Looking at her face, she looks sad for some reason.

“Cassie?”

“Yes.” She replies with a slight hiss.

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes!” She replies in annoyance.

“Why are you sulking in a corner?”

“It doesn’t matter!”

So something is wrong.

“Want to tell me anyway? You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

She lets out a long sigh. “I destroyed some iron stupidly from doing a crafting recipe wrong.”

“It is just iron.”

She looks away, repeating, “just some iron.” Turning back, “it was the last of my iron. I needed an ax to cut that crappy tree in my backyard. The damned thing is an eyesore.”

Looking through the window, I see a gnarled tree. Looks like Frankenstein had a hand in its creation. No wonder she wants it gone. Thinking over what she said, a smile blooms on my face.

“Cassie, how did you screw up the recipe for an ax?”

She stairs me down, I meet her gaze. “Fine, I placed the 3 iron on the right instead of left. Damned crafting table ate my materials for something silly like that.”

“Don’t worry, I personally put some things in wrong. Had to restart an hour’s work. I know it is annoying that crafting tables destroy the items if you put the wrong recipe in.”

That seemed to calm her down. I may have exaggerated a little. Stepping to her backdoor, I leave the house. Walking to the tree, I cut it down with my power staff. An ax projects out of the power staff, slicing in one clean motion. It topples down into a pile of oak; “good riddance.”

Stepping back inside, Cassie is looking my way. She goes a little red, turning away. “thanks.” She whispers at a nearly inaudible volume.

I sit down next to her, bringing her into a one-arm cuddle. We sat there for a while, making me regret putting my arm there. One dead arm later, and she finally sits up. “Want anything to eat?”

“No, I am in my vampire body; I already ate.”

“I see.” She says, turning away sharply.

“What have I done?” I say, not getting an answer.

Sometimes I don’t get what goes on In her head. After she brings some biscuits for herself, she sits down.

“So, anything interesting going on?” I ask.

“No, just stingy old men.”

“Hoarding their treasure close, I assume.”

“That and then some. Weaseling themselves into the best deals… Somehow!”

“With age comes bartering skill,” I say wisely.

“Still annoying.”

“Of course.”

She sits more comfortable, looking at me. “Anything interesting you’re end?”

“Had to visit the vampires, give them a warning.”

“Why?”

“I heard some earth empire news. Rumors of vampires and spreading around.”

“That’s not good.” She says, sitting up in surprise.

“It is definitely not good.”

“What did you tell them?”

“Spread out, and increase the hunting ground.”

“Won’t that mean they will have less backup?”

“Sadly, yes. But it is better that way as long as we can stay hidden for longer.”

She nods thoughtfully. She turns to me, “should I become a vampire?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well… you will live forever; it sounds kinda nice.”

“If you want, I can prepare you an extra body, a vampiric body. Having a clone already, you are effectively immortal. You just need to make a new clone after each death. But, hey, a backup is always a good idea.”

“Okay. There is a cure, right?”

“Of course.”

“Can you make the cure?”

“With enough time, most likely.”

“Why can’t you do it now?”

“It requires a coven.”

“What is that?”

“A group of witches who work together on larger spells. The cure is as large as they come; you need a full coven.”

“How many is a full coven?”

“Six, including yourself.”

“Interesting.” She ponders on what I said. “what would you consider a witch viable for a coven?”

“The requirement is to have a familiar in most circles.” Recalling the game requirement.

“So you are a full witch?”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe I should try and become a witch.” She says with a smile, head in the clouds.

“If you wanted to, I am happy to teach you.”

“I will keep it in mind. Let’s sort out that vampiric body first.”

“Okay, I will be right back.” I return home. Grabbing Cassie shell storage and constructor. Returning, back to her house. “I am back,” I say dramatically. She moves back in fear. Clearly, she wasn’t expecting me to be so quick.

“I am just going to make you a secret basement; where do you want it?”

She sits there for a moment, mouth agape at what I just said. Slowly she gets up, walking around. She settles on a spot in the corner.

I replace the block with a secret room’s trapdoor. Camouflaging it before digging down. I create an obsidian tunnel heading straight down. Ladders leading up and down to exit and enter. At the bottom, I create an obsidian bunker. I set down a thermoelectric generator to power the cloning equipment.

Next, I add the clone gear. Setting it down and adding wires, it powers up with a satisfying ding.

I beckon Cassie to come down.

“I can't see anything.” She says.

I am confused for a moment, forgetting I have night vision.

“Oops, sorry,” I say, adding some Glowstone. “Is that better?”

“Yeah. So, what is all this.”

“Your own body storage area.”

“Creepy, but cool.” She says.

“Okay, you know the drill. Place your hand on the pad.”

She shoots me a dirty look. Holding her hand to her chest protectively.

“Yes, it sucks; I know. Nothing I can do about it, sorry.”

She looks down sadly before allowing her hand to be spiked. She recoils with a yelp, rubbing the excess blood with a cloth.

“Now, do you want your true body to be immortal? Or your clone?”

She thinks for a moment. “You can cure it if I need you to, right?”

“I can even give you the ritual recipe.”

“Okay, I choose my True Body. Give me the recipe, just in case.”

I take out the recipe from my witchery book, copying it onto a sheet of paper. “Here,” I say, handing it to her.

“Thanks, okay, how do you turn me?”

After explaining the method, she takes a moment to calm herself. Sitting down in a lotus position, just breathing. Eventually, she stands. Looking at me with clear eyes, “I am ready.”

“Okay.” I simply say. I embrace her body, biting into her neck. She makes a very questionable noise as I drain her blood. Putting bad thoughts out of mind, I drain her to half.

Her body goes weak, forcing me to catch her. I use my claws to cut into my neck, bringing her to drink from it. She drinks it greedily, like someone lost in a desert, thirsty and desperate for a single sip.

I allow her to drink her fill before letting go. She collapses to the ground, shuddering and changing. While she is changing, I quickly change into human form. I want to allow her to drink from me; rather than a random person.

Returning, I see her seizure-like movements settle. She opens her eyes, ruby’s for eyes, she looks at me. She grasps her throat in pain, attempting to talk. She only manages to gasp. I remove her hand from her throat, bringing her fangs to my neck. Giving her a hug as she drinks her fill. I know the pain, the thirst when you first turn.

She doesn’t stop after the halfway point. She keeps drinking; “Cassie, stop; you are gonna drink me dry.”

“Cassie, stop!”

I go to pull her away, but I am weak from the blood loss. Feeling myself grow cold and weak, I start to panic. Quickly grabbing a God apple, I scoff it down with the little strength I have left. Feeling the invigorating vitality, I pry her off me. Falling back and stumbling to the floor in weakness.

Clarity comes over her in an instant. Rushing to my side, “I am sorry, I am so sorry.” She says, tears in her eyes. She kneels beside me, staining the ground with moisture.

With the barest of strength, I speak. “Dinners on you next time,” I say with a weak chuckle.

She grasps my hand, “of course.” And with that, I disappear into a peaceful slumber. I don’t feel as cold now, just very weak. I later woke up in her bed. She was beside the bed looking at me worriedly.

“Cassie?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve got to ask. How did you get me out of the bunker by yourself?” She turned a brilliant shade of scarlet, how curious.