Sixth Bloodline [BxB]

CHAPTER 32: I TRUST YOU [WHAT REALLY HAPPENED 20 YEARS AGO]

cHAptEr 32:

I trUst YOU

[wHAt rEALLY HAppEnEd 20 YEArs AgO]

MIKHAEL WAS someone who sought death, but did not actually want to die — therefore, he wasn't actually stupid to repeatedly seek death for no apparent reason.

But, there always has to be exemption to everything — and in this case, Mikhael never learned his lesson with Ethan. Why did he constantly go to provoke this fiend, it's something Mikhael will never know.

"What a pity," speaking of that devil, Ethan was currently sitting on the bed with a smile on his face, letting his body be used like a cushion for Mikhael, "If you could've held out longer, I'd really have shown you my best."

Mikhael, who was slumped on top of him like a jello: "..."

"f**k you," he could only curse, but his voice was so raspy that there was no any resemblance to his original voice. After being tortured for three days straight, Mikhael's vocal chords really couldn't take it anymore.

Nor could his body.

Certainly, as a vampire it is no problem to heal himself, but any psychological damage affected Mikhael worse than psychical. Especially when this fiend generously fed him blood again and again, Mikhael really began to regret asking him for his "best" back then.

So he could only lie on top of Ethan who was — in contrast to his lifeless self — almost beaming from the happiness.

"Yes, yes, we can continue tonight, I understand," he gently patted Mikhael's head, he didn't even feel offended with his words. In fact, even if Mikhael started to chase him around to chop him to pieces, Ethan would gladly open his arms to greet him. He was that happy.

Mikhael couldn't understand. How doesn't he dry out down there? Is it a special ability of Pureblood's? Any normal man would have became impotent by now after three days of activity, so how can he be so... energetic?

Mikhael thought that there was no logic left in this world anymore.

"Really a pity," Ethan sighed, "But looking at the long term happiness, I should better let you rest for now, how about we go outside and see what's going on?"

Mikhael bit his lip before looking at Ethan's chest.

'Go out? Sure, go alone — I want to sleep!'

So he bit Ethan instead. What can he do when he can't beat him anyway? Who told him to be weaker than Ethan? And to lower his guard in front of him?

"How energetic? Did I perhaps make a mistake? You can last another round?" Hearing Ethan's question, Mikhael shivered in fear and immediately calmed down.

"Out," he spat out. Let's go out!

"Alright, I won't bully you anymore," Ethan let out a heartfelt laugh.

"Come here, drink some more. The situation out there should be peaceful for now — I doubt that Tristan stayed behind, but..." Ethan recalled that for a moment there, he lost control and damaged his sight with some odd power, "No, even if he comes, I'll deal with him."

He might come back because of that incident. Ethan didn't know why he felt like that, but he believed that the damage should keep Tristan blind for a while.

"Flame, do Amelia and Dominique know the real extent of your power?" He suddenly changed the topic making Mikhael raise his eyebrow.

"Amelia... More or less. She doesn't know about me being a spell-caster, thought. But she knows everything else," including his bloodline. "Dominique doesn't, he was a vampire, so I couldn't tell him everything, but Amelia was my student, so she saw me fight often."

Ethan nodded.

"Then, the situation with barrier? Why would they send you if they didn't know?"

Mikhael paused for a moment. Recalling the conclusion he came to after deliberate thinking, he had a clearer picture about that incident, but...

"Ethan?"

"Yes?"

"I'll trust you this one time."

He raised an eyebrow. Is he finally going to tell him that he's a half-blood? Ethan didn't know how to feel about this.

"Do so, I will not betray you."

But nobody else should know, else Constantine will switch from Dominique to targeting Mikhael instead.

"They think that I have a friend who is a good spell-caster, so they probably wanted me to contact him to deal with this," Mikhael explained, "But... I have my own reason to suspect that someone actually knows the truth and the whole situation with pillar... Someone might've done it intentionally to target me."

"..."

Gone was playfulness from Ethan's face as he turned to face Mikhael.

"You mean to say..."

"Even the previous damage. And my entry... I don't know how to explain this, but I think that it was just a set-up for me to come here."

"..."

Ethan did wonder how someone of Mikhael's caliber ended up in Eden. It was noted that he was caught in the middle of brawl with another vampire, but now it seems that it's not quite the case.

"How did you even end up here?"

He really wanted to know.

"Uh, don't remind me," Mikhael really regretted that night, "The guy I hunted, the Reaper one; I chased him all the way to here and just as I killed him in the outskirts of Eden, I waited for the train which I missed. Then, just as I was about to take a nap, I heard someone scream. As you could expect, a human was being chased by a vampire, so I saved her but then... Well, I was caught by W.E.R.P. They appeared immediately after."

"Immediately?" Ethan raised an eyebrow, but then his expression froze.

"Flame, this..."

"I know. I figured out that much. W.E.R.P. is also involved," he confirmed his doubts not so long ago, "Which is why I showed my ability and told you about Blue Death back then."

Ethan's eyes narrowed as he recalled who all knee about that incident in New York.

"It was intentional... That day when we found the corpse?"

"Marian wasn't surprised with me using a talisman. He didn't doubt a vampire being a spell-caster, nor did the other two." Not to mention the other thing...

"Flame..."

"On top of that, Amelia never really asked what happened back then when I dealt with the pillar. Therefore, although I just might just be overreacting about this whole situation, it's a given that Hunters HQ gave up on me."

They probably didn't expect Ethan to become Mikhael's blood partner. Everyone outside knew that Ethan loathed those who killed vampires, and decided that Mikhael won't be as protected as he is right now.

"I'm afraid that this all has something to do with me, but..." Should he tell him that he's a half-blood? Mikhael stared at Ethan with complicated gaze. At this moment, Ethan was the only one he could rely on, but... What's Mikhael doing right now, isn't he just deceiving Ethan?

"I..."

"It's fine," Ethan sighed. He didn't want Mikhael to confess under those circumstances. He'd rather the later party say it of his own will. If Ethan really wanted a half-blood, he could've gotten one a long time ago. There were some who died premature before Yelena since it weren't just Purebloods who had set their eyes on them. Some Nobles wanted to keep half-bloods for themselves and hid them from Purebloods, but how could they completely cover-up the truth?

Competition between Nobles is much worse than Purebloods who attacker after long planning. Other Nobles who found out would be blinded with greed and attack them, causing many half-bloods to die in that crossfire. Or Purebloods would appear to take them away, but some half-bloods didn't want to leave their Nobles whom they fell for or befriended sometimes, so a Pureblood would just kill them.

Mikhael was right, Purebloods were not good people. Not a single one of them. Those rumors he spoke of, they naturally had some truth in them, before they found a proper half-blood partners, some Purebloods would keep them just for the sake of their blood.

Even though it was long time ago, it doesn't change the fact that it actually did happen.

Ethan just didn't want to get involved with that nonsense, so he avoided to search for one on his own — but then Mikhael appeared out of nowhere and now... Well, he'll see how it plays out.

Therefore, he completely understood why Mikhael hid his identity and found nothing wrong with it, and now as time passed — Ethan found himself drawn closer to the little vampire. Perhaps even more than he'd like to admit.

Yet, the only reason Purebloods didn't go all out is precisely because the odds are equal and Ethan didn't have a partner who would fight for his sake. Seventh was too young to influence anything, and Ethan stood out of this fight, but if he did happen to find a partner — the other five would not dare to let him go.

If they all lost a half-blood in that fight, but Ethan still had Mikhael, won't he end up the final winner in the end? What a joke, how could they dare to let Mikhael live peacefully?

"How much do you trust Amelia?" He needed to sort out his enemies at the moment. Ever since Mikhael came here, he was one way or another caught up in this mess, so Ethan could also see that something was wrong, "Also, how old are you? But really?"

To make so many people act, why bother up to this point?

"Over eight centuries, 828, I think," he mused, he's just 2.5 times younger than Ethan, no big deal! "Amelia... I'm afraid not. Not anymore."

She was the one that decided to not trust him, anyways.

Ethan's eyes darkened.

"So Dominique will know," from Mikhael's words earlier, Amelia should know about him being a half-blood. Therefore, she might have or might have not told Dominique the same thing. Constantine and Dominique are enemies, but if it's a half-blood that's over eight centuries old, even the two might put their guns away for a while.

Mikhael was a far bigger threat than Purebloods.

"Hm," Mikhael was still lost so he didn't understand this as clear as Ethan, he was too focused on the reason why he's targeted.

"It would appear that everything started from New York."

Someone was obviously hunting him because of that city. Is it because they wanted his heart or because they knew what happened?

"Yes, don't tell anyone about it," Ethan began to think, "There's also a chance that this is all because of Seventh's death. If Constantine knew that you're the spell-caster behind New York, he'll hunt you down. No matter what, don't show you ability in front of him, even if you die."

Mikhael froze.

What— what did Ethan just say?

"E-Ethan, I..." He stumbled on his own words.

Surely, he heard wrong?

"Constantine and his dirty deeds, how could I not know about them? Do you really think that I could survive for so long in my position by knowing nothing at all?" How could they all ignore Ethan who didn't want to fight? If they all fight among each other, Ethan who ended up unscratched from this mess would become the most powerful!

Purebloods aren't idiots, how could they let him be? He naturally has some dirt on those bastards, when he said that Diana cared the most for him, he was not completely honest with himself.

Diana was the best... Because she still haven't schemed against him.

"What?" He lowered his head to look at Mikhael's pale face. Those eyes full of dear gazing at him as his body trembled made his heart ache. It was then that he remembered what he just said.

"Not many people know, but when it comes to Dante, the two of us were closest. Actually, compared to the entire family, only the two of us held no malice to each other — perhaps were both youngest, so he was drawn to me."

"I..."

Ethan sighed. He really felt conflicted when he realized that Mikhael was the one who wiped out New York, but when he learned that Mikhael was the one behind those pillars and all, he really couldn't bring himself to hate him.

"Constantine was always putting his nose where he shouldn't have — he wanted to control everyone, so Dante would always run to me to hide. Surely you don't think that just because I'm the youngest I should also be the weakest of the six, right?" Pureblood's power has nothing to do with their age, unlike half-bloods and other vampires.

"The reason I could calmly sit on the bench and other five didn't dare start a fight was precisely because none of them could force me to join a side. The competition for half-bloods later came in the picture since they couldn't settle down their problem on their own. Constantine wouldn't carelessly come to me to take Dante, so rather than say that there are two groups of Pureblood's, there were actually three."

Mikhael didn't see where this was going, but he could understand what Ethan was saying.

I'm really powerful.

And... He didn't attack Mikhael despite knowing about New York.

"Dante was on my side, but he wasn't even a century old, so he naturally had no intention to fight. But, he was weakest. He only had one familiar and his faction wasn't even in initial stage of growth — naturally, he didn't even have a confidante by his side. Instead, he used me to say what bothered him."

It's why he had no malice towards Mikhael.

"Including his adventures with an odd vampire who could use spells. And his only friend."

Mikhael felt like something was stuck in his throat. He couldn't dare to look Ethan in his eyes so he just buried his head in later's chest and continued to listen in silence. Since Ethan didn't immediately grab his throat to choke him to death, Mikhael realized that the other guy perhaps knew more about that incident that Mikhael himself.

"Dante... He was one of those miraculous humans, I guess. When he was only ten, he knew more than grown ups and could calculate faster than advanced supercomputers. He also had some ideas that could possibly change the world, but he wasn't meant to live long. His body was weak, and he didn't have much longer to live — but somehow, the King found out about this unusual human and thought that he'd be quite valuable to vampires. Especially as a Pureblood."

Oh, Mikhael didn't know that. Dante avoided saying anything about how he became a Pureblood.

"But, to change a child was still considered a crime back then. However, a Pureblood was different, as long as they don't drink blood after their change, their growth won't be stopped — only slowed down. Even after sixty years, his body only grew another two years and despite being a Pureblood — didn't drink blood even once."

Mikhael now knew why the other one never wanted his blood.

"But he was mischievous so he often ran away. When I found him one time, he told me how he befriended a weird vampire who, despite knowing that Dante was a child vampire, didn't kill him but decided to keep him. He suspected that the other party was some evil guy who picked up little vampires and then made them do who knows what, but Dante said that the time spent with that guy was warmer than the time he spent with his actual family."

Well... Mikhael indeed thought that Dante was just an ordinary vampire child so he picked him up and threw him with others. For the time being, he really had no idea about Dante's identity until the other guy vanished for a while and then came back again. He'd do so for few years and by the time Mikhael got used to his disappearances and found out his identity, it was already to late to get him off his neck.

But, since Dante didn't seem to want them any harm, Mikhael let him be.

After all, he realized that the later was running away from other Purebloods, so he — perhaps in some weird sense of camaraderie — understand and pitied him. He was also running away from Purebloods as well.

"I wouldn't know it was you had I not learned that you made those pillars. It's not a coincidence that I'm reigning over this Eden. It's also not because of some 'he's youngest, therefore weakest' that they sent me to the best Eden ever built, it was something to do with Dante."

Suddenly, the entire temperature of the room dropped making Mikhael shiver unconsciously before raising his head to look at Ethan. The other guy's eyes were originally staring at nothing in particular, buy once he sensed Mikhael's movement, he lowered his head to look at him instead.

"This was meant to be the only Eden. Dante and I's territory to live in once other Purebloods decided to fight on their own. We planned to make somewhat resembling utopia here, and others naturally weren't involved. Dante said that his friend had a way to create barrier that would prevent vampires inside from leaving and those outside from entering. I didn't think much about it, but my Flame really seems to be capable."

Mikhael blushed before burrowing his head in Ethan's neck. Ethan's words really knew how to throw him off guard sometimes.

"And shy." Ethan hugged him, Mikhael's naked back was warmer than usual making him feel comfortable. But all that jumping around was really... "Don't move so much. I don't have that much self-control when it comes to you."

Mikhael immediately stilled. He could feel Ethan's certain part of the body grow larger inside him, but he really had no strength to go for another round. Yes, the two were still joined as one.

"A pity, indeed." Mikhael only felt that it was a pity that he couldn't beat Ethan now. But if nothing else, the tension around the two calmed a bit.

"Where was I... Ah, right. Making of Eden. This was around the time before the Great War. Five years exactly, if I'm not wrong. You didn't finish the barrier completely, but you left Dante with almost finished product and disappeared," Ethan smiled recalling something, "I assume you entered a Deep Sleep then?"

Mikhael subconsciously nodded focusing on not moving as much as possible.

He did, he hit his eight century mark, but luckily his Deep Sleep didn't last too long. Well, he was enjoying his Deep Sleep, but some two fuckers decided that it would be fun to fight around the place he chose and woke him up earlier than expected. That left him a bit weak, but since he realized that — for some unknown reason — humans and vampires decided to fight like crazy, Mikhael had no choice but go out and fight.

Huh, wait a minute...

He almost forgot about it, but Mikhael back then met some really obnoxious Higher Noble vampire who wore a mask 24/7 that Mikhael got entangled with for the next three years during the Great War. Mikhael from Hunters HQ was on the side of humans — unless he saw their despicable deeds — but since he couldn't fight as a vampire, he also wore a mask and acted like a spell-caster instead.

Since he didn't want to fight as a vampire nor let Hunters HQ know about him, he pretended that "Mikhael" was still in deep slumber, and that he was that "good friend" spell-caster himself during the war.

It's how all the rumors about him started back then.

Anyway, regarding that guy — he and Mikhael had no grudges and actually had similar views on this war; but their respective sides required them to often act against each other and go on missions where they also often fought. Unfortunately for their bosses, since Mikhael and that guy didn't really have any hard feelings towards one another, they didn't take their battles too seriously.

In fact, they'd sit together and chat, but then would compete to see who'd finish their mission first and go easy on each other. They'd draw swords just for the sake of their audience, but their attacks had no power at all.

Only some flashy special effects.

Unfortunately, Mikhael hasn't seen that guy in two decades, so he's probably dead by now.

What a pity.

Now that he recalls that guy, he seems to have worked under Dante too?

"As expected..." Ethan mused, "Somehow, the other Purebloods got a wind on that information. Dante was weak when it came to battles, but his brain truly was one of its kind. I even suspect that the Great War was started by Constantine and Dominique... To get their hands on those pillars. Blue Death, Dante's death, the fact that he's right now..." He lowered his gaze, "In Constantine's head and the reappearance of other Edens... It truly doesn't look like a mere coincidence."

Mikhael sighed.

"I don't know if you heard about it yet," he chose to say what he found out, "Constantine has a secret dealing with Hunters HQ... To collect Dante's blood fragments all over the world. I was kept out of this, though."

Ethan stilled.

"Indeed. It would appear that Constantine really had a hand in Dante's death. He's controlling his memory and used his knowledge to build more Edens — luckily Dante entrusted those original pillars to me back then, and our spell-caster could only make a weaker copy. But he was needed to finish those pillars and some things were added so it doesn't prevent vampires from entering, only leaving the city."

Ethan began to think.

"A lot of vampires were in higher circle in government, but they were still unable to prevent information from spreading? Not to mention that war could've been delayed with peaceful talks, but instead it was a mess." It was too unusual. The movement of both sides was too weird during the war, both sides just wanted to destroy each other, but neither to stop and talk.

And...

It all ended once Dante died.

Ethan had his suspicions before, Mikhael's words just now proved it.

Purebloods never talked with Hunters HQ unless they both shared information to hunt some vicious vampire down — usually a Higher Noble who rebelled and they couldn't hunt on their own. Higher Nobles knew all the ways and tricks vampires used to hunt down traitors, so external help is needed. For Constantine to make a deal with Hunters and Hunters HQ to actually accept it...

Surely, this can't be their first?

"You didn't know?" Ethan asked when he realized Mikhael's words.

"Yes, it was kept from me. You must know that no one ever hid a single thing from me there because of my special identity and previous position."

"I see. Then, did Constantine ever make deals with Hunters before?"

Mikhael frowned, why would he ask this?

"Almost all the time. Since I got that position, I worked with him more times than any other client. I was the representative for Hunters and he for the vampires since the two big bosses never meddled with that part. They only came out when something serious happened."

Ethan's eyes darkened.

So that's how it was!

"What about other Purebloods?" Ethan continued, "Did you work with them as well?"

"Sometimes," Mikhael nodded, "It was just some ordinary business to hunt a Higher Noble or so. Though, most of them, unless vicious, were taken under our protection. Hunters wanted to exterminate vampires back then, surely you understand."

Mikhael, however, always wore a mask back then. He didn't want any Pureblood to see his face in case he accidentally slipped and revealed that he's a half-blood.

"Then, the things you discussed..." Ethan began, but he suddenly became alert. Throwing Mikhael to the side who didn't even have strength to complain, he stood up and walked to the window, but when he saw the situation outside, his eyes flared up in anger.

"f**k, put your clothes on immediately!"

He began to dress up as well and although Mikhael felt confused at first, he followed nonetheless when he saw his expression. Even the tiredness from earlier was gone as he became influenced with Ethan's serious mood, but when he passed next to the window and saw the situation outside, he immediately hurried up with preparations.

"f**k! What's going on?" Mikhael swears he never saw more Nobles and W.E.R.P. agents gathered in one place before — not even while he repaired the barrier.

But why are they here?

Not to mention... He think he saw some of the Esteemed Seats outside as well. Did they already decide to make a move on him? But why now? It's too early?

What about the Blue Death? Are they just going to ignore the situation.

"Constantine f*****g knows," Ethan was calmer than Mikhael, but even he couldn't help but curse in this situation, "He knows that you were the former First Seat."

Once he figured out that Mikhael was targeted and connected all the dots, he figured out that they were either after Mikhael because of his identity as a half-blood or the spell-caster. The later probably had to do something with the barrier, but if you add Dante into equation and Mikhael's position as the First Seat...

"Flame, vampires never chose Constantine to talk with Hunters. We Purebloods especially didn't want to have dealings with those guys unless forced."

He probably guessed that Mikhael would end up telling that to Ethan or just wanted to catch him before Mikhael had that chance, because Ethan would realize what happened back then once Mikhael have him the last piece of puzzle.

"We need to leave Eden for now. You were right, they really had you as their target."

Even going as far as to send him to Ethan — someone who wouldn't spare Mikhael if he learned that the later was responsible for Dante's death. Perhaps, if Dante didn't confide in Ethan as much as he did, Ethan would never learn their true relationship and kill Mikhael himself.

He'd destroy the only clue he had with his own hands.

"What a good brother you are, Constantine."

Even daring to smuggle his own men and W.E.R.P. agents to subdue Ethan's people — if he didn't know better, he'd say that the other party intended to take over his Eden, no?