The Lady of Shadows

The Vampiric Tricks

    The next morning went by normally again. Lilith left after lunch to meet Rosaline. Dominic was pacing around my office while I caught up on paperwork. I was reading over a report asking for an updated fountain in the market center. The one there was honestly repulsive. The former king had clearly been vain to have 5 of himself in a circle pouring water as if it was his gift to the city. The ideas for replacement were statues of me, Lilith, and Dominic, but honestly none of us were that vain, or patient. I cleared an order and wrote in orders for the removal of the fountain, and in its place I would build something more calm. Maybe a horse or some of those pretty siren sculptures. Dominic sighed heavily.

    "If you are going to keep doing that I am going to send you away." I said.

    "Sorry, I'm just not used to sitting around." He said taking a seat.    

    "I know all to well.... What would help?" I asked as I signed the order and set it aside.

    "A spar. Oh I can teach you the heart trick!" Dominic remembered suddenly. I nodded.

    "Okay, teach me the heart trick, then we'll spar, I need you to get stronger without backup from Lilith. I also need her to get stronger too, I just haven't figured out how yet." I said out loud, "Eventually I want you both on even footing with me, or better." We went out to the back lot and Dominic was excited to teach me something.

    "Okay, so Vampires as a pure race are classified as magic beings, and their magic skill is blood magic. Dark stuff but basically they have full control over anything to do with blood. That includes what's inside. Us being mixed, we won't have the same level of control, but there are still things we can do with what we do have, like for example, controlling our own blood flow. This can be useful to quicken healing, stop bleeding, or limit pain receptors. A more extreme skill is using that flow to slow the heart. What I did in the fight was exactly that. I slowed my heart to a point where it would only beat once every minute. Stopping it completely is impossible as we are technically living things, unlike full blooded vampires." Dominic explained, "At least that is what my mother told me." 

    "I see so... the smallest step would be learning to control a blood drop first." I mused. I pricked my finger and focused on the blood. It was unusually hard for me to bend the blood to my will, but after some focus it moved in the direction I was aiming for. I tried keeping it moving. When the drop fell from my hand I stared at the ground in disbelief. I had never failed at anything before. The disappointment hurt my chest.  

    "Shadow?" Dominic asked.

    "I... have never failed before. I've always been a fast learned and normally get magic work the first try..." I said out loud trying to wrap my head around the idea that I couldn't do this as easily as anything else. 

    "Keep in mind blood magic is a vampire thing. An undead thing. You aren't undead. So it will be harder for you. It took me three years to get to where I could control even a small amount of blood. It isn't a skill the living are supposed to have. The only reason we can is because there is vampire blood in us. It just hasn't activated. We haven't died." That caught my attention.

    "What happens if we do die?" I asked. Dominic shook his head.

    "That depends on how and the person dying." He said.

    "Examples?" 

    "Well, I had a brother... He rotted instantly. Nothing left to bury or burn. He was mild in just about everything. Mother was devastated but said it was because his soul was to weak to handle being like her.... I also have an aunt.... the most vile woman I have ever met. In fact she was the major player that resulted in you saving me." Dominic said. I was intrigued to say the lease I took a seat waiting for him to continue, "She was jealous of my mother, and when it was announced that I would take the thrown from my father when his human age limit was reached, she went off the deep end. She conspired with my father's brother who hated the idea of a kingdom that was so free... no slavery, no one race better than the other... my aunt was a mix breed vampire, and she tempted my uncle with the crown. Telling him that she would rule beside him as my mother and father did. He agreed and they began their plans. Once my father was dead... their teamwork was over. My uncle killed my aunt. She was such a strong willed person that when my mother rushed to her, she awoke as a full undead vampire. My aunt ripped my mother to shreds, then turned on me. I did everything I could to get away, and eventually lost her in the forest. I'd be willing to bet she went back for my uncle thinking I was as good as dead." Dominic said. 

    "I'm sorry... I can't believe I never thought to ask." I said... Slowly a new plan began to form in my head. A new goal, "Hey... if we could free your people.... end the rain of your uncle... make you king...." I started.

    "I would love to see my people free, but I am no king. The crown never belonged on my head. I am a fighter, I cannot lead people the way you and Lilith can." He said. Then he shook his head, "It would give me great pleasure to be apart of the plan to free them, and it would be a huge step to your goal of being a famous adventurer and getting that title, in due time. For now, focus on your blood. We'll get to everything else later." He said as he turned back into the teacher. I rolled my eyes. Such a soft lump of muscle this man was. He carried burdens as big as a kingdom, yet he put me and my goals first. He was a kind soul, and a great man. I leaned over and kissed his cheek.

    "We will free them." I promised before getting back to work.