Chapter 6: Elizabeth
I could see it now, the hero and his lover, killing themselves in a pathetic battle of idiot versus idiot. Once she delivers the final blow to the hero, she will no longer be of use to me. What? Did you people really expect a vampire of my stature to cling onto a half-breed? You have got to be kidding me. If you want a story of kindness, then I suggest you buzz away, right now.
I confronted the new slave with many intentions concealing my mind.
“Welcome to your job,” I said. “You will not be receiving any payment and your new identity will be Elizabeth. You will be responsible for getting your on food, water and you will only die when I kill you. Sounds like a fair deal?”
She didn’t respond.
“Well Elizabeth?”
“Yes sire,” she finally said. I chuckled. Gladius snapped his fingers causing the dragon to fizz into smoke thus forming back into his emerald. He placed the emerald in a pocket of his cloak.
“Good, now let’s get moving,” I said to Elizabeth. “And if you slack off, you will die.”
I admit, I’m probably the kindest ruler around. She couldn’t get a better deal than this from any other vampire.
Observing the area, I found myself walking into another dump with pentagon-shaped houses surrounding each corner. There were a few merchants parading the area, attempting to fool morons into buying their products. The sun began to set and I could smell the approaching night air.
Gladius led us through a thirty-minute walk to the back of the town. We eventually arrived at a small rigged house. Gladius pushed the latch and led us inside the open door.
In the open, a caramel-skinned woman with dark brown hair sat in the middle of the floor weeping. I noticed a strange circle painted around her.
“Adrian, what the…” Gladius paused. “What’s going on?”
“I must repent, I must repent,” Adrian repeated that over and over. I face palmed. It appeared that she lost her mind, thus ruining our plans. Seriously, what kind of person that wants to kill the hero, sits in the middle of the floor, in an awkward position repeating some incantation.
“It’s obvious,” Elizabeth, said, “she’s under a trans.”
I glared at her. How was she able to speak out of freewill? My slave venom really lost its lust.
“Shut up,” I uttered. “Don’t speak out of line again.” I thought I heard her mutter something, but she did a pretty good job of covering it up if that were the case.
“Yes sire,” she said blankly.
Adrian continued to chant. I grew bored.
“I know what happened,” Gladius began. “Using my seeking eye, I analyzed her past. Recently, the hero, who took her wand and forced her to repent, defeated her. I told you some of the story earlier, but there is more. Seeking revenge, Adrian attempted to destroy Isle Town, only to be defeated by Adius again. Only this time, the hero was a little more persistent. He located Adrian after she escaped and used a shard of the dark gem to suck away the darkness from her –but in some desperate attempt to save herself, Adrian accidently placed herself in this trans. For nourishment, the hero creating this cleansing circle.”
“That’s not all. It looks like the trans is breakable.” Elizabeth spoke out of line again. I didn’t waste my time scolding her –she’d just run her mouth again.
“She’s right,” Gladius said. “I should be able to destroy it but it may take all night. You two are going to have to leave me alone for a while.”
“Er, fine,” I said and then smirked. The night air had finally settled and boy was I hungry. “I’m going to catch a meal or two, I’ll be back later.”
Gladius placed both his hands on Adrian’s forehead. “Sure,” he said. “I won’t be able to move for a while.”
I started out the door but stopped when I felt Elizabeth following.
“What?”
“Master… I’m hungry too.”
I laughed. “You’re responsible for your own meals.”
“But...could you teach me?”
My ears nearly burst. “Wait, you’re willing to drink the blood of your own kind?”
“I…don’t know what to do.”
“Hmm, well, your skills are useful –so I don’t need you dying pathetically of starvation. I tell you what; I’ll teach you how to catch a meal this once. But after this, you’re on your own.”
I stepped outside and then leapt to the rooftop of Adrian’s house. Surprisingly, Elizabeth followed.
“Hmm, you haven’t showed anyway signs that you’re losing your jumping skills.” I said. “Now pay attention. This is your first feast so it’s very crucial for you to use your sharpened sense of smell to sniff out the blood type you desire. In your case, you’re probably going to lure in pathetic men. It’s probably going to be difficult to find good something at this time, since most of them are going to be intoxicated.” I spat of the thought of intoxicated blood.
“I understand sire,” Elizabeth said. She took a deep sniff of the air and grinned. She leapt to another rooftop. I followed in silence. Down below, a black-haired boy who looked about the age of seventeen, sat alone with a lantern and art supplies and painted the night sky. I could respect this guy for actually appreciating the delicacies of the night air, but then again, prey is prey.
Elizabeth jumped from the roof. I watched her movements carefully.
“Hello,” she said to the artist. He nearly jumped out of his skin.
“You startled me miss,” he said softly.
“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth said in a voice so sincere that even I was almost fooled. “I’m a little…lost. Can you help me get home?”
The artist frowned. “I haven’t seen you around here before.” I could smell the suspicion in his voice. What was Elizabeth going to do now?
“You see…I’ve just moved in with a relative but I’m still having trouble navigating.” She laughed nervously –a brilliant comeback.
“Okay, sure, I’ll help.” The artist placed down his sketchpad and his paintbrush and stood. Elizabeth grabbed his hand.
“I’m…scared of the dark.”
The artist chuckled. “No need to be afraid. Isle town’s…”
Elizabeth caressed his chest and made eye contact with him. Big mistake for him –he was now temporarily bewitched. I kind of admired her style of attracting prey. I never bewitched my meals though –the fear warmed the blood and accelerated the flavor.
Elizabeth revealed her fangs and bit his neck. She giggled and then drank. When she finished, she sighed.
“Man, that’s refreshing,” she said. “I feel like I can run for days without stopping.” The artist was unconscious on the ground. I charged some heat into my palms. “So how’d I do Master?”
“Not bad for a rookie,” I said and then leapt to her side. “I guess I’ll show you how to dispose –”
“No.”
“What?” I said.
“He’s still alive –there’s no need to bring unnecessary attention over this.”
Unbelievably, she did have a valid point. I recklessly brought attention; however, I could care less.
“Do you really believe that I care?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “When Adrian awakes, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want to deal with an angry mob outside her house.”
I sighed. “There’s no winning with you. Fine he’s your meal –you can call the shots on him. Some other vampire should make up for my lost anyway.”
I hopped back to the rooftop, followed by Elizabeth. I sniffed the air until I came across a nice scent. I immediately homed to its location.
A woman carrying a dagger slowly approached what appeared to be an abandoned house. I could hear her angrily muttering something under her breath. My meal was going to be spicy.
I hopped a few feet behind her and said, “Hello.”
She flinched. “You gave me quite the scare,” she said softly.
“What’s a woman so beautiful doing out here so late?” I could smell the scent of her blush oozing off her face.
“No…nothing,” she said.
“Well looking at that dagger in your hand, I’d say, I’m interrupting something.”
She stared.
“Now, now; I can keep a secret. You go finish your job and I’ll keep lookout.”
She nodded, kicked the door down and disappeared into the rigged house. How dense can a human get?
“Are you letting her go, Master?” Elizabeth asked while sitting on the roof, staring endlessly at the moon.
“Are you stupid –no,” I answered. “I’m strengthening the flavor of my meal.”
Shortly, we heard screams. I laughed.
“An assassin’s blood –haven’t tasted that in a while.” I said. The woman finally stepped outside.
“Thank you,” she said softly. I grabbed her arm and pulled her to my chest, giving her the false impression that I was hugging her. She began to cry and buried her face into my chest. There was nothing like the power of guilt.
I grinned, revealing my pearl-white fangs.
“There, there,” I said, “it’s going to be all over soon.” The pathetic human mistook my words as comfort and cried even more. I noticed a menacing look in Elizabeth’s eyes on the corner of my eye. I plunged my teeth into the human’s neck; she gasped softly and slipped into unconsciousness.
After finishing my drink, I dropped the woman on the ground and leapt to the roof.
“Aren’t you going to dispose of her?” Elizabeth said.
“I don’t feel like it,” I said with a soft sigh.
“Why not?” she pushed, “Don’t tell me you’ve –”
“Don’t get the wrong idea,” I said in a voice that asserted my authority. “Not only am I following your pathetic suggestion but this meal happens to be the best I’ve tasted. No point of wasting such guilty blood.”
“I see,” Elizabeth said. “Well, you’re the master of quality. It would make sense for someone of your statures to have the best of the best.”
I laughed. “Try not to flatter me too much.”
Elizabeth chuckled.
Later that night, we arrived back at Adrian’s house. Gladius was still in the same position, both his hands on her forehead. A bright red aura surrounded his body. Gladius was more powerful than he appeared. I was wise to request his assistance.
“Hey master?” Elizabeth said softly.
“What?” I said as I took a seat on the floor. Elizabeth sat next to me. “You’ve got about ten seconds to get away from me –can’t a vampire get some peace around here?”
She didn’t bulge. I face palmed.
“Why do we need Adrian?”
“Well that’s an idiotic question to ask,” I said. “We need her to help us locate the shards of the dark gem.”
“I see –but why do you need the gem?”
“It’s a useful world domination tool,” I answered. “Any other questions my odd-acting servant has on her mind?”
“No sire,” she said.
I closed my eyes to go to sleep. Several minutes later, I awoke to see Elizabeth fast asleep using my shoulder as a pillow –that sneaky wench.
“Get off me,” I growled. She didn’t respond. I stood up, allowing her head to fall to the floor.
“Ow –damn it master,” she said softly.
“You’ve got some nerve using my shoulder as a pillow. Do you have a death wish?”
“Geez –some honorable vampire you are,” she bellowed. “You don’t even know how to treat a lady.”
“First of all, you’re…” I stopped and burst into laughter. “What the hell’s with my venom? Since when did a servant defy their master?”
Elizabeth quickly got on her knees. “Forgive me sire.”
“That’s better,” I said. “Now be a good servant and sleep over there.”
I pointed to the far side of the room. She obeyed.
Seriously, my venom had either lost its true power or that girl’s magic countered just enough of it –I paused that thought.
“So that explains why you still have a free will,” I chuckled. “It’s very unfortunate that you couldn’t save your memory either.”
“What’s that, sir?” Elizabeth said.
“Your human half is quite impressive. I’ve should’ve seen this coming. Your other half is in a dormant state –which explains why you were willing to accept blood over human food. Unlike Adius, you are unable to control your vampire side.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I bet your human half had some plan to reawaken –but didn’t expect her vampire self to feast upon human blood. And because of that, she’ll –”
“That’s not quite it,” Gladius said. I turned around. Adrian no longer chanted. She was fast asleep. “Elizabeth is experiencing a certain human emotion –”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said, immediately catching on the exact one. “Damn human nature.” I turned to Elizabeth. “If you want to continue under my wing, you’ve got to learn to drop all human emotions. Or at least that one. Otherwise, you’ll get in our way –and if you do that, you will die. Neither of us will hesitate to kill you.”
Elizabeth sighed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I couldn’t believe out of all the emotions my venom left behind –it left that one. I decided not to worry. I’d dispose of her early if she made one move based off that emotion.
I wasn’t a vampire that was going to let idiotic human nature slow down my domination of this world. Using Elizabeth to make the hero an easy kill was ideal. Nevertheless, priorities came first –and I wouldn’t hesitate to destroy Elizabeth.
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