Sixth Bloodline [BxB]

CHAPTER 02: I'LL TAKE YOU IN [EVEN IF IT'S 24TH CENTURY, ONE CAN STILL GET FIRED]

chAptEr 02:

i'LL tAkE yOU in

[EvEn if it's 24th cEntUrY, OnE cAn stiLL gEt firEd]

   "MY FUTURE is ruined."

Some passers-by noticed the blonde youth sitting on the pavement as he looked at the sky like it was about to crash down on him, but didn't pay further thought to it. Looking at the majestic building behind him which was Eden's Jurisdiction Center, they immediately understood why he acted this way.

Vampires brought from the outside all complained this way once they realized that they are now trapped in this city, so it was nothing new to the residents of Eden.

It's just, with his face — he seemed so pitiful that they can't help but glance twice in his direction. Everyone liked aesthetic things and people, even more so vampires who are used to being more beautiful than each other.

Mikhael glanced at his wristband — or restrainer as it's called, unaware of their thoughts.

Although he had heard the rumors from the outside, he never properly investigated the existence of these things. Eden was surrounded by some kind of a magic field — which was most likely a product of a some spell-caster's boredom — that prevented vampires from going outside.

Of course, the very thought of making that barrier wasn't all that impossible if proper Armaments were to be used — not the kind of those cheap grimoires you could get on eBay (well, some witches DO get bored and actually go along with selling them there for real — or are in need of money, since witchcraft doesn't pay off as much as one would think), but it was too complicated and difficult to actually put into practice.

For one, people who can make such complicated Armaments and spells can barely be counted on two hands.

Mikhael also doesn't think that a decent spell-caster capable of making them could appear just a single year after the Great War, so there must be some kind of scam in this deal.

Especially since the resources to make something like a barrier surrounding the entire city won't take less than one year to complete.

Edens existed for a while now, and this city — the first and oldest Eden in the world, was created nineteen years ago, just ten months after the Great War ended.

The best barrier in the world... Before Mikhael messed up with it — was in the core of Vatican and it still took them few centuries to complete it. One should know, of all spell-casters in existence, Popes who ruled over Vatican were always the best spell-casters of their generation.

And Vatican had one every twenty years — which explains the difficulty behind that barrier's creation. It took best spell-casters centuries to make one, but now vampires found another so soon?

   "It's even more ridiculous when you try to compare the two."

These vampires sure were lucky bastards... Or unlucky.

Not to mention that it was Hunters who associated with spell-casters more than vampires did.

And what do Hunters hate? Vampires!

For f**k's sake, even spell-casters themselves hated them, vampires are always the bad guys no matter who you asked!!

And to make a barrier on this level, they'd need a huge number of spell-casters that weren't really fond of vampires — which made Mikhael at his wit's end. Unless vampires had a secret deal with spell-casters he didn't know about.

But that's even more baffling!

Since this barrier was more of protection than a cage.

Why would spell-casters create something to protect vampires who are strong enough to beat them on their own?

   'Eh, wait, didn't I also make something like this a long time ago?'

No way, right?

   'It can't be...'

He glanced at the wristband they put on him before explaining that he'd become fried to ashes if he just as much as got near the boundaries of Eden, but to Mikhael — it was no big deal. He refused to believe that he can't drill a hole through such barrier and escape...

   "But something still doesn't seem right."

This wristband was somewhat similar to Armaments and resonated with the barrier, but Armaments made by spell-casters burned vampire skin upon contact while he felt no pain from this thing. Even the restrainer placed in him when he was brought to the city hours ago made his wrists ache a bit.

   "..."

He kinda wanted to stay and investigate more about it. It was simply his curiosity getting the better of him.

It reminded him of something he saw long time ago, but he couldn't remember what exactly.

   'And where...'

He assumed that the wristband was some kind of GPS tracker and will start a reaction when near the boundary of that shield, which would be the best way to explain those warnings he received — it was probably electricity or thunder that was going to make him burn.

Spells that recreated simple acts of nature such as thunder, fire, water and so were quite simple to pull off. If they were to be installed in that barrier, then it would make sense to get attacked by them the moment he got close with this weird wristband. But flammable barrier is something only a tasteless spell-caster would try to make — so most people would prefer electricity or thunder to strike enemies.

And Mikhael didn't really fear something like that since bodies of Half-bloods are indestructible, but even so...

   "What a pain in the ass!"

   "What the, you're still here, Flame?" A face appeared above him, blocking the clear view of the sky for Mikhael. "Did you have enough time to cool your head?"

   "The only thing that cooled was my ass from sitting on this cold pavement — are you really so bored to come and harass me now," he snorted as Ethan stepped away before turning to the person standing behind to him who nodded without waiting for verbal command and left.

   "Indeed I am." Ethan's lips curled upwards, "Are you really an i***t or do you truly not understand what it entails to go against a Pureblood?"

   "..."

   'Bloody Hell, I really want to punch him! Even Dominique doesn't provoke me this much when I see him!'

Dominique was Mikhael's friend who owed him enough money to buy a country, and only kept asking for more. The only reason why Mikhael continued to lend him money was so that he could use the other guy, who was a pretty capable Higher Noble.

No one would refuse one of those guys as cheap labor!

But giving away money made Mikhael feel like his heart was bleeding. So whenever he saw Dominique, he'd get annoyed.

   "Why did you suddenly go silent?"

If it was the past him, Ethan would've dealt this boy hundred times over for merely getting on his nerves.

   'Did I change so much because of you?'

A lone figure crossed his mind in that moment, but he shook it off before it could take roots. He shouldn't linger on memories of dead people.

Since he'd be swallowed with regret instead.

   "I heard something, but not much. In any case, even if you're more powerful — I still can't beat you, so it won't do me any good to shake in fear now."

Well, since he already screwed up, Mikhael wanted to play along for a while. It might be even more suspicious to provoke Ethan despite knowing the truth, so he decided to act a bit more... En, Mary Sue. Mikhael was good at it, anyway.

   "..."

Mikhael stood up before wiping his butt from dust, treating Ethan like air — it was not that he didn't want to fight him, he did!

He really wanted to punch this guy more than anyone else, but he wanted to go somewhere and wash away the exhaustion he collected today. In any case, he probably won't get involved with this Pureblood ever again. In a city this big, he refuses to believe that the two of them can still meet for the third time!

Not to mention that his instincts were telling him to avoid this guy, that he'd be in great trouble if he started a fight now!

Yes, he definitely wasn't afraid of this person!

   "Yes, yes, now if you'll excuse me I have a hotel to look for." Going after a Pureblood in his current, bloodless, f****d-up state wasn't the right choice for Mikhael, and he had other business to take care off.

It was risky to actually escape and deal with the W.E.R.P. going after his neck, so he'll just wait for his organization to give him another mission he could use as a green card to run away.

The syndicate he worked for should be strong enough to protect him... Or not.

He sighed to himself, having no other choice but to firmly believe that everything is going to work out in the end. The sooner he leaves, the better. He didn't want for Ethan to remember him, he worshiped the verg idea of this guy forgetting about his existence!

   "Then you be careful," a voice interrupted him as Mikhael turned around to glare at him, "Although this is a city of vampires, all kinds of arguments happen here. If you make a single wrong step, it would spell the end for you. For someone to go against blood command and turn a pet in those turbulent times, it's really a wonder how you haven't died yet. You probably didn't even get the basics right, having had such an incompetent owner."

Snicker.

Michael sneered at those words. Let's not talk about this random owner he himself

Someone as old and powerful as the Pureblood couldn't distinguish him from a newly turned vampire, he had almost forgotten about how lucky he was.

Things have, once again, began to look in his favor and he hoped not to mess up — but the grin that became more and more twisted on Ethan's face next to him told him otherwise.

   "One of the most basic knowledge when you become a vampire."

Huh?

As Mikhael turned around, he noticed a slender hand that was just an inch away from his forehead. "Don't provoke people you cannot beat."

In the next moment, his whole body lost control as he was sent flying horizontally, stopping only when he fell upside down into a bush on the other side of the street.

   "..."

Although his skin was thick and as a vampire, this didn't hurt much  it was quite humiliating to be sent flying because of a casual flicker from another man's pinky finger!

He seriously calculated the odds of successfully beating up this guy and running away without getting caught, considering whether he should give in to his instincts or his desires.

But before he could bring a slightly dangerous decision, the silence between the two got interrupted when he heard the familiar sound of his phone ringing. Turning his head around, he noticed that his bag was next to Ethan feet, with the phone placed on top of it.

Following his eye, Ethan slowly took the phone that belonged to Mikhael before checking the name of the caller and his lips twitched when he saw the weird ID.

   "Aphrodita Karamba?" Ethan was certain that it had to be a fake name, because if someone actually went by it — they'd either commit suicide or kill anyone that heard it.

   "Ah, my boss' secretary. Perfect, give me!" Ethan raised his eyebrow at those words, yet threw him the phone anyway. Mikhael easy caught the phone that was thrown from fifty meters away.

   "It's me, is there another job?" he replied automatically, completely ignoring Ethan's curious stare like he wasn't even there. Ignore the vampire, ignore the vampire—

   "We call to inform you that from now on, the Twentieth Seat has become free."

Say what? Mikhael blinked in confusion as he tried to understand what he heard just now. He could comprehend each of those words alone, but why were they so hard to understand when put together?

   "Come again?"

   'Oh, have they already decided to make a move?

   "I'm not quite sure, but the boss said that since you were so incompetent and got caught in Eden while pissing off a Pureblood in the meantime, he no longer has a place for you in our syndicate. Therefore, as he said >>please go and die, you blonde piece of s**t and don't cause any problems for me. From now on, we have no goddamn idea who you are, so forget about us as well

   "..."

   "Your stuff will be transferred over by some of our trusting agents, don't worry about anything and live your life far from us. We don't want to do anything with you anymore. Rot and die!"

Just how many times did she just tell him to go and die?

Mikhael only silently moved the phone away from his ear. Call ended and the extremely thin screen turned transparent before he got a chance to ask anything else as realization dawned on him that his friends and partners abandoned him in this city.

But anyway, Mikhael never liked that P.A. to be honest — she has always been trying to kill him whenever they met.

It's because he managed to get laid with their boss, and she didn't, despite courting him for a long time.

   'He was truly useless in bed. Not even enough for one star review!'

Anyway, the syndicate he worked for — Hunters HQ — had twenty important agents and he held the last Twentieth Seat, but apparently he just got fired!  Which was incredible since no Seat got fired before!!

Unless they died.

No ass to warm the Seat was a needless ass! So they hired someone else.

   'Even so...'

   "What just happened?" Ethan asked, unaware of all those details. Mikhael couldn't tell him the truth or Ethan would have one more reason to kill him — so he tried to avoid saying more about this matter.

   "I just got fired. After all those years of trustworthy business, they fired me."

Motherfuckers!

He worked for them for six centuries! Six hundred years he could have spent sleeping!!!

And a vampire getting fired at the beginning of the twenty-fourth century totally didn't sound bad at all! No, a vampire hunter being fired while in midst of vampire city inhabited solely by vampires in the midst of twenty-fourth century ABSOLUTELY DIDN'T SOUND f*****g BAD AT ALL!!!

   "I don't even see why anyone would even bother to hire you. It's their blessing to have gotten rid of you, Flame."

   "..."

   'Did I offend your whole family, perhaps?'

That nickname made his palms itch and Mikhael fought the urge to jump on Ethan and punch him in his face. He only felt even more tired with each sentence this bastard said out loud!

He wanted to roll inside his bed and not get up from it for entire month.

With that thought, he put his phone away from his sight, fearing that he might accidentally crush it in rage. Phones in current era were suite convenient things. Thin as a layer of skin, extremely flexible so they can't be broken easily and can be carried around with ease. Other than touch platforms, one could easily use holographic version as they wanted. The signal was so stable you can use them on Mars, even!

   "It's alright. I can give you a new job." Was he perhaps too harsh with his previous words? Ethan consoled Mikhael who ignored him.

But...

   "It's not that surprising..." He mused to himself.

   "Hm?"

Mikhael ignored Ethan curious glance.

Considering how Mikhael began to slowly drift apart with Hunters HQ, it's not that surprising that they fired him. He himself planned to escape in the near future, but as someone who knew too many secrets about that place —Mikhael knew that he wouldn't be able to get away easily.

With this, at least, they'll leave him alone.

   'Still...'

He couldn't help but feel uneasy about this situation.

Since when did Hunters HQ fear Purebloods to the point of giving up on an Esteemed Seat?

   'Or no...'

They only looked for an excuse to get rid of Mikhael and by offending Ethan — he just gave them one.

He clearly remembers that few years ago, he saw a man that introduced himself as the Twentieth Esteemed Seat without knowing of Mikhael's true identity. And it was in the period when Mikhael still held his position.

But who was that person?

   'More importantly, when did I meet that person?'

As he thought about that, he massaged his forehead feeling an impeding headache.

   "Is it really that bad of a problem to even make your head hurt?"

   "..."

Fuck, it's all your fault to begin with!

But Mikhael felt uneasy. They said that someone will come to bring his things over, and the only people that could possibly come from their side would be Hunters!

Although Mikhael felt that it was a good thing to get away from that organization, he really did know too much about them. It made no sense for them to let him be, so...

He glanced at Ethan.

Although he really doesn't want to, he already has a decent shield in front of him.

   "Say, that offer you just mentioned, you're being serious, right?"

Hm?

   "What kind of job did you do before?" In any case, Ethan's castle was big and there aren't many people living in it. He can take one little vampire to help around.

   "Fighting."

En, he did hunt vampires for living, so he indeed fought a lot! He didn't lie.

   "...why would I need a bodyguard with my current level of ability?"

Fuck!

Right. This is a Pureblood — there isn't anyone who can harm him, so he really had no need for bodyguards.

Mikhael thought for a while, and... Well, his other hobbies were a bit too shameful to say out loud, so—

   "I'm pretty good at managing money and finding corrupted people." En, Mikhael could completely clean up their treasuries in minutes, even! Just take a look at Vatican, their greatest shield got breached and he stole all their valuable relics, hehe~

   "..."

Seeing the wretched smile on Mikhael's face, Ethan decided that he must never give him this position.

   'Forget it. Let's just keep him around to kill boredom.'

At that moment, the person from before returned with an elegant black carriage. The black horses that pulled it weren't tangible beings and there were two odd blue flames on the sides. It was extremely elegant carriage, but it's design looked like it crawled from depths of a bloody fairy-tale.

   "..."

   'And those things pulling it... Very well, this person has a lot of money!' Mikhael must loot it clean before he escapes one day in the future!

   "Let's go. I don't have the entire night."

Watching Ethan go in, Mikhael fought the odd sense of déjà vu he felt, but still picked up his ransack and followed inside. Vampires, especially old vampires, really liked to live with a style. So be it their suits, carriages or old castles instead of mansions, if they had money — they will also spend it on them.

They also liked using various breeds of sprites as their accompanying pets. The old folklore about vampires keeping monsters as dogs isn't just an empty talk.

   'In fact, it's already nice if its ONLY sprites they kept around as pets...' And not some kind of true monster.

Mikhael could only stare through the windows as they drove towards the so-called castle. He looked around him and sighed that a Pureblood indeed won't slight himself. A car fueled on magic stones and driven by sprites was truly something only really rich could afford now.

Their good point was that they never strayed from their road even if they had to ride on the wind or water surface, but their bad point was that they are expensive as hell.

Ah, it surely wasn't like this few centuries ago. You could get one for a single mana crystal, but now it became vehicle for rich bastards! Also, trading with Magus has always been a good deal, but because some sly bastard cheated them with slavery contract and started mass-producing those kind of vehicles, Mikhael lost his favorite ride.

Then sprites rebelled, refused to drive those cars again and in the end — only a handful remained. And that handful was worshiped like gods, so they became really difficult to obtain.

And now that he finally got a chance to ride one, he had to share it with a Pureblood!

Looking the old streets full of vampires and night lamps, then considering the absurd law of physics as the carriage moved through some stairs here and the without people inside not feeling even the slightest discomfort — Mikhael could finally see the part which made this city be rumored as paradise on Earth.

Lost in thoughts, he wasn't even bothered about the rumors of Ethan being a pain in the ass, nor feeling on the edge around him because of these words. Perhaps... Settling down in this place wasn't a bad idea?

In any case, since he might live wherever he wanted, and since this Pureblood already concluded a tragic backstory for himself — Mikhael thought that he could really get used to this place if he tried.

   'Keep your friends close, and enemies closer — like the saying goes.'

Well, Mikhael also figured that the more he played by Ethan's rules — the sooner he'd obtain the necessarily trust from this guy.

Not to mention... Although this 'youngest' Pureblood was really dangerous, he was fond of vampires alone. Mikhael heard various rumors about his deeds during the Great War — like him having three heads and six arms, and how he loved to burn down the countries for fun — but he also helped vampires whenever he could.

Mikhael today provoked him and the other guy treated his words like empty air spoken by luttley brat, what else can he add!?

Mikhael makes sure to properly calculate the pros and cons when using someone before actually making a move. And right now, there were more pros than cons of staying with Ethan.

   'I refuse to believe that those fuckers can still come to cause trouble for me if I stick next to this Pureblood!'

As for Ethan having a pit in his brain...

Although Mikhael didn't know where those rumors steamed from, they all had something to do with a mortal this Pureblood used to love during the Great War. Some say that he died, some that he was tortured and some that this Pureblood personally killed him because he was from the enemy camp.

The information on the Great War was full of holes, so no one could say for certain what truly happened back then. Even if they personally witnessed something, high are odds that they were tricked or allowed to see a fake reality by those who had powers. Some might have had their memories implanted or erased... It was just that dangerous.

But that this man destroyed an entire peninsula on his own, this thing was definitely true.

   'Somehow...'

Seeing the real deal sit in front of him... Ethan really didn't appear like the guy from those rumors. So the matter of brain pit can be left for further discussion.

Not only was Ethan so handsome that his looks could even be called otherworldly — Mikhael's brain subconsciously refused to believe that he was wicked when he looked at that face! He also carried himself with elegance and didn't appear like someone who would start a m******e on a whim. Just his looks alone would make one approach willingly, drawn in by his aura!

   "What is it?" Ethan frowned as he looked at the juvenile inspecting him like he was some kind of alien.

   "Nothing. I've just been thinking... You're really nothing like the rumors say."

   "Oh?" Ethan raised an eyebrow and then stared at Mikhael. They were seated across each other.

   "What rumors?"

Didn't this kid say that he merely heard a bit about him?

   "..." Mikhael felt weird. "You don't know?"

   "Should I know? There's so many rumors about me that I can't even begin to guess what you're trying to say..." For some reason, his voice sounded really helpless as he spoke those words.

   "Well, you know... Three heads and weird weapon as you go around with a wicked smile and kill whoever offends you?"

   "..."

   "I expected you to look more..." —ugly and short, "Dangerous and cunning."

Ethan's lips curved into a wicked grin, perfectly matching that description —and successfully sending shivers down Mikhael's spine.

   "This is the first time I heard someone use these words to describe me."

   "Your people must've been afraid to say those words, that's probably why..." He weakly smiled as he shook off the goosebumps on his skin. Who in their sane mind would criticize a Pureblood in their face, anyway?

   'Oh, f**k — I just did!'

   "No, that's not it." Ethan sighed, "Those rumors are true. I really am as bloodthirsty as much as they can use their meager imagination to describe me, if not — even more."

   "..."

   'Saying this with such an indifferent face — do you really think I'm not gonna punch you?'

The only type of rumors Ethan heard about himself were all about his compassion and endless love for vampires... Thanks to a certain someone disguising themselves as the Sixth Pureblood and helping those in need, his reputation soared!

By the time Ethan heard about it, he was already a Saint in the eyes of vampires. Yet what Ethan hated was other people relying on him and calling him benevolent, but even if he said something else to prove them wrong — they'll just think that he was cold on the surface, but warm on the inside.

   'But that person is already dead. I really shouldn't be thinking about him... Since so much time passed already.'

The red ruby in the middle of his silver cross gleamed, as if refuting his words.

Mikhael had no idea about Ethan's inner conflict as he devised plans for his future. One included settling down here, looting some stuff from Ethan's castle and then changing his appearance to continue living in Eden while others were about how he should  most efficiently drill a hole through the barrier of this city and escape.

   'I should wait and see how it goes, for now.'

He hasn't lived all those years in freedom just to be caught while saving someone innocent! He decided, even if the world was to end tomorrow — he wouldn't bother to even lift his finger to help anyone!!

Knowing his luck, they would probably blame him for that destruction in the end — since something similar happened in his past long time ago.

He minded his business when he heard a damsel in distress.

He decided to just take a look at her problem when he arrived at the village engulfed in fire.

He just killed the vampire who caused it and next thing he knew, villagers blamed everything on him and were chasing him with stakes and holly water to kill him!!!

After that, even vampires began to hunt him since he "threatened their existence from remaining a secret"!

He should've learned his lesson back then, yet he was sucker for those in need. He cursed his personality, he was an asshole, yet he couldn't not help those in trouble. Or maybe he became that way by wanting to change that, and still failed.

He couldn't remember.

But before Mikhael could continue to deal with existential crisis, they arrived at their destination.

This place was too bright of an experience for Mikhael.

Every person in this castle had solemn expression on their faces yet gazes full of worship directed at at Ethan when he passed by. The picture was too contradictory, yet scary since every single person was the same to the point where Mikhael felt like he entered a haunted mansion! And then they'd glare at him when it was his turn to pass them by!

If not for their aura and red eyes, he would've suspected that these people are ghosts — not vampires!

   'I really feel like closing my eyes and fast forwarding time for few years or so.'

His goal was to sleep. His life dream was to sleep! He must get away from here immediately!!

Mikhael was the kind of guy who — no matter what happened and even if he ended up spending eternity in jail — wouldn't mind these details if they meant that he could sleep comfortably in there.

   "Varus," Ethan called out and in an instant, a person appeared in front of them. Mikhael wasn't really surprised seeing as they were vampires and all, but it still took him off guard how they naturally used their inhuman abilities in this place.

Vampires used to hide and avoided their exposure at all costs in the past. Even he himself remained vigilant and avoided using his abilities after the Great War — but he shook his head and reminded himself that he was now in a city full of night walkers.

Still, old habits die hard. He has been a vampire for the past eight centuries and most of that time was spent with Mikhael hiding his identity.

   "This guy is our new employee, and he'll be working under your wing. Also, he is only newling, so teach him how to be a vampire," he pondered for a while before continuing, "Send someone to my office tonight and take him to one of the empty rooms we have, he'll also be living here."

Ethan gave commands in an instant and was gone in the next one, not letting anyone interrupt or complain to him.

   "..."

With Ethan finally gone from his sight, Mikhael almost gave him thumbs up before he took a look at the guy that should lead him to his room.

His instincts as a vampire Hunter told him that this guy was definitely a Higher Noble!

Like most vampires, he had the standard white hair. Long, and tied behind in the similar style from Victorian era, sharp red eyes and not an ounce of stubble nor beard. He also wore white robes.

As a standard perfect man — he was taller than Mikhael who had nothing against his own 175cm, despite them making everyone mistreat him for a teenager.

Mikhael felt that his harmless-looking face was truly an innate skill granted to him for the sole purpose of scamming other people!

Yes, he was pretty and had that young face — perks of immortality. And despite eating like pig and lazing all the time, thanks to their vampire regeneration skills — their body is always shaped to remain in their most optimal state. Abs and muscles included.

Although... Mikhael didn't really have them and had to work hard in order to obtain abs.

If nothing else, he did have a flat belly so he didn't have to worry about being overweight. He was lucky that his body had no impurities whatsoever either.

And yes, even their hair becomes silky. Everywhere. On. Their. Bodies.

   "I assume that you're the famous lad who managed to piss off our Lord Pureblood?" With a gentle smile on his face like a benevolent elder looking at a cheerful, yet mischievous child, Varus asked while Mikhael fought the urge to roll his eyes.

Vampire city, vampires everywhere, and heightened hearing everywhere were a really the best way to spread around rumors!

   'I really hate this information network of theirs centered around their heightened hearing.'

Should he open his jacket and show them his shirt made with pure resentment towards those blood-suckers!?

Guess that, despite being full of immortal vampires — the city was just as hungry for gossips as humans.

He wasn't partial — no, Mikhael also hated humans very much, if he must add!

   "News spread fast," Mikhael helplessly chuckled, not daring to complain to a Higher Noble out of all people, "I assume that you don't have as much newlings barging out of nowhere and starting fights with Purebloods as soon as they meet one," was his sarcastic, yet quite honest reply.

Mikhael's sharp tongue spared no one under those blue skies. It was also the reason behind 110% of his brawls with other people.

   "Kid... That tongue of yours will get you into trouble, you know?"

   'Well yes, telling truth to people that don't want to hear it usually leads to trouble...'

   "It can't be helped, I was born this way. Moreover, it already did, I have nothing left to lose."

   'Especially not dignity!'

   "Maybe, I like it that you're high-spirited, but beware of Elders in this place. Since they're all old-fashioned, they won't take your freedom of speech too kindly."

Well... If they can be bothered to go out of their coffins and see the light of the day — since they fear their Lord Pureblood so much.

   "Thanks for the warning, I'll make sure I spend 24/7 of every month, for the entire next year sleeping — and thus successfully avoid meeting any of them and manage to keep my head intact, and on my neck!"

Which, in reality, he was capable of pulling off. He'd probably just need to feed here and there, though. Twice or thrice per year — just his usual.

   "By the way, what did that guy mean when he said to send someone over to him? s*x?" Now, now — Mikhael was also a man, so he had nothing against s*x and good round of pounding — but after a day like this, he wouldn't even have the energy to kiss, much less f**k with someone!

Not to mention that it was too exhausting. And sleeping was too sacred to him, he would've never traded it with the former — well... if he found someone skillful enough for it, then he might change his mind.

   "No — our Lord Pureblood doesn't like company at night, it's just for feeding," Varus sighed as if he carried some great burden, "But s****l intercourse is usual here — don't tell me that you don't know how we do things around? You really must be a newly-turned," he continued to muse to himself while scratching his chin, "Do be careful, try not to catch someone's eyes."

Ah, the new little innocent vampires are the best. Nothing like scheming fuckers wanting to kill and rule and blah blah he has to deal with every day!

   "..."

   "You don't look too bad, after all..."

   'I'll blow their f*****g heads with a bullet if they dare!' Mikhael had high criteria for lovers, and just being a Noble or anything above was his bottom line!!

   "I get it that you f**k and all, but isn't this Eden? Weren't humans forbidden from entering this city?" he continued, his eyebrow questioningly raised as Varus smiled in turn.

   "Well, even though this is a vampire city, there are still some humans who come to live here on their own volition — this is how we have blood donors. But s****l intercourse has to be done in moderation precisely because their lives are at stake — some vampires do let loose when drinking blood." Which is precisely why Mikhael asked that question!

Did that Pureblood have special rights because of his lineage?

   'Discrimination, as expected — even vampires have been corrupted!'

Though, they might have shown signs of corruption even before humans learned of that word.

Mikhael didn't believe Varus at all! That Pureblood must've called someone for some nightly work-out!

   "And, you see — drinking blood or getting blood in our organism from another vampire is lethal to our kind. But Purebloods are different, they can drink the blood of other vampires instead of human blood."

Mikhael already knew that one. So basically — the reason why that guy constantly had red eyes and used his abilities was precisely because he probably had someone to feed on every night, be they vampires or humans.

Mikhael didn't really hate Ethan, the Sixth Pureblood.

Well, who he liked was the existence known as the Sixth Pureblood since Mikhael often sought his blood in the past via various dealers and such because of some personal hobbies. His blood was one of the best goods Mikhael could obtain, but he really despised his personality!

For some reason unknown, he really wanted to punch him when he looks at his face?

    'Maybe he also offended me in my previous life?'

   "Anyway, it's not like it's any of my business." Any occupation that would keep Ethan away from his poor self was more than welcome in Mikhael's case.

He didn't forget about his grand goal of living like a salted fish, away from Purebloods and conflicts.

   "I see. So, what about us? When do they feed us? When do I get blood?" Just then, Varus stopped in front of some white door. Mikhael wondered if he asked about something he shouldn't have, yet Varus only put his hand into his pocket before taking out a little box. Shaking it, Mikhael heard something like pills move inside.

   "You're a newbie and aren't allowed to do so — not until we're sure that you learned everything there is about self-restraint," he threw the box to Mikhael along those words, "These are blood pills, they will satisfy your hunger, but you won't be able to use your vampire abilities and strength. Perfect way to get used to the taste of blood and learn to restrain yourself — we usually carry them around when we're hungry and all, but it's what most of the vampires get used to from the beginning."

Mikhael regarded those pills with suspicion. He had never heard of something like that from the outside would, was it the privilege granted only to the residents of Eden? Then what the f**k did they do with those outside that lost control.

Like Children of Night.

How many innocent children that couldn't deal with their thirst had to be killed up to this day?

Those that were turned against their will and had to kill because of their impulses?

He has no time to ponder why the Higher Noble of all people had this thing with him.

   "One pill will last you for a month, unless you're using your powers often. I assume you understand how our connection with the blood works by now?" Varus asked and Mikhael nodded. He didn't want to speak with them at the moment, feeling resentful.

   "Well, the amount of power you can use will drop drastically because of those pills, so it's rare for one to last longer than five days. But still, do try to be careful."

But more than anything, he had to find a way to spread those to the vampires outside of Eden. For the sake of those children.

   "Then, this is your room. Get comfortable with it first, tomorrow I'll find someone to teach you how to fight and the proper etiquette of the vampire world. You might be new and all, but a very respectful person from the Hunter Association is about to visit us due this week — it is something you mustn't screw up, or else..."

Hunters, Purebloods, Eden, W.E.R.P, Neo-Humans — each and every one of them were scheming to get above all others, blind to the chaos their arguments leave behind. But Mikhael couldn't fight them in his current state.

Which is why he will wait.

Wait for his chance and then strike back.

He wasn't going to become anyone's marionette again.