"You can gain inhuman power. But that costs you more than your blood." she told him with a sigh and instead of feeling offended, he was struck with her honestly. When she did not notice hesitation, she replied confidently, "you will lose a part of your soul if i merge with you. But then you can use all my powers at your disposal."
Elias nodded. She had already done a lot for him.
"Thank you! I will do anything for you in exchange." hearing his sincere voice, she smirked with a dark gleam in her eyes.
"Anything?" but he did not hesitate as he repeated.
"Yes, anything…" Seraphina laughed. The man was still loyal to his core. Few habits were hard to change.
"You are going to live with me from now on. I will train you to be a better sword and you can hide there till you are prepared for your revenge." when he nodded, Seraphina's pale hand closed around his wrist. Her touch was too cold like a reptile coiling around his arms.
In an instant, the alley's damp stones slipped away, and they were gone. When Elias opened his eyes again, he stood at the edge of a clearing deep in the woods. A great manor loomed before him, its tall spires choking on ivy, its windows dark and eerie. No moonlight spilled over its walls; even the stars seemed to shy away.
Yet, within that gloom, torches flared to life along the battlements, casting flickering shadows over racks of weapons. There were swords, axes, polearms, even exotic blades hung in meticulous order on the outer wall
Elias swallowed hard. "Where… where are we?"
Seraphina stepped beside him, her silver eyes bright against the darkness. "Home," she said softly. "Your new home." she patted on his shoulders as she nudged him to follow her.
Elias noticed how large trees surrounded the manor to make sure there will be no warm rays or the light of day falling on the manor ever.
"You hate sun or it burn you?" he asked with a raised brow looking at her crimson eyes. She cocked a brow,
Her lips curved in a slow, amused smile. "You are finally afraid, little boy?"
He shook his head, though his heart thundered in his chest. "I am not a boy anymore. I have killed someone, remember." she shook her head and chucked at his simple retort and entered without looking back if he followed.
"Good that you are not afraid just with this much or it would have gotten boring." she laughed softly as she looked at her own house with a look of awe in her eyes. she breathed. Then, her voice dropped to a whisper that chilled him to the bone: "You won't need warmth here."
Elias frowned. "What… what are you, Seraphina?"
Her eyes glittered in the torchlight as she traced a pale fingertip along the brim of his chin. "You agreed to blood and soul." She leaned closer until her breath was cool on his neck. "You wanted power beyond humans. You asked to lose something of yourself in exchange."
He looked away, voice trembling. "I.. I did."
"Very well." She stepped back, shoulders straightening into regal manner. "I am what you call a vampire."
The word struck him like a blade. His breath caught. He spat, "A… a monster."
She laughed again as she stood tall, her voice echoed off stone. "Monster," she echoed softly as if tasting the words on her lips. "You are as ignorant as you can be!"
She continued walking and he followed her while looking at the head and skin of animals decorating the wall. There was no large portraying hanging in the hallways but weapons.
They walked into a large hall where a small stage was built and a large red leather chair waited for her there.
"Nobles lie all the time. You were not the first and you are definitely not the last. But have you ever thought from where did they get all that wealth since they did not work at all." Elias went silent with a frown settled on his lips.
"They own land and charge taxes from all of us." she laughed, softly, sweetly. But he was not a fool to not know mocking beneath.
"You commoners who are treated like pests! Do you even have the ability to provide for their luxury?" she taunted in a plain voice. It would have been better if she had mocked. At least, he could have blamed her for her heartlessness but now he knew, she was cold and aloof by nature.
"They get it from you!" It was such a wild thought. He was not even sure where it came from. But as soon as he said it, he knew it was true. Her eyes proved it.
He noticed a flicker or surprise and then admiration there. But it was gone before he could feel it, bask in it.
"You are right. We give them wealth and power. They use the power to rule on all of you. Despite being a handful, they hold all the power and use you at their disposal." he nodded, he had seen many times how they were treated, hating it to his core.
"What do you get in exchange?" He did not mind when she sat down but did not offer him a chair or anything. He stood there, scanning the room, trying to learn everything she could offer. He knew it would come handy one day.
"We get blood in exchange and sex too. We love our primal nature. It keeps us strong." she smiled and he didn't ask what kept her strong. Where it was blood or sex. But he saw hunger in her eyes when she looked at him this time.
His Adam apple bobbled and heat rose to his body, he ignored it.
"Why choose them only?" he whispered, more breath than sound. "Why not give us commoners a chance? We can perform better." she chuckled then and in the next second, she was standing beside him.
"Have I not given you a chance already, Elias? It is time that you prove yourself worthy."