Unexpected Obligations

Hello, Mr Fredric! How that dental plan is working for you, so far?

_I keep cutting my tong in those sharp teeth, Elder Anissa. Heals fast, you know, but the taste of my own blood in my mouth is distracting, in an annoying way. Too many razor sharp teeth!!

_Do you regret your decision to accept our invitation and became a vampire, them?

_I wouldn’t go that far!

_Good. We have not talked since that night in your hometown. I understand you have been a vampire for two months, almost. Time for your first hunt is near.

_You didn’t lied about what was in stock for me. My skin is rough like naked stone, humans may hurt themselves if they touch me without being careful, and some scale patters in my arms I didn’t expected. Other than that, I got what I signed for. And my skin resists my own claws better than I imagined possible. This tong, black and pointy, is perhaps three times longer than my human tong used to be. I’m still having difficulty in speak because of that.

_Don’t be too harsh on yourself. You have a different voice, but it sounds clear enough to my years.

_On the other hand, the strength. The reflexes! And all those new sounds and smells!! Not to mention all the things those black shark eyes show me. All that is, more than I could have hoped for.

_And you made new friend, in the form of a kind couple.

_Yes.

_You do realize they are playing you. My niece Cintia, specially.

_Hum…, they have been. Helpful?

_They want to have at least one of their children turned. The family choosing you frustrates that hope, for the foreseeable future. If you end up destroyed while her children are still in the ideal period of their lives to became vampires, that would serve their interests. Cintia was, indeed, monogamic, we would know if that was not the case. She married virgin, was always faithful and loyal to her husband. You are her first betrayal. Would be licit for her husband to get angry when he finds out about her adultery. Angry enough to challenge you to a duel, and destroy you, permanently. And he has about one decade of advantage over you in his combat training. Not to mention, a life time dealing with vampires and paying attention.

_That is, something that has crossed my mind a few times. Not exactly in that much detail.

_One more detail for you. Vampire families do try to transform couples, whenever possible. Is a likeable myth. However, you will find very few couples of vampires among us, elders. On the same time, and interestingly enough, divorce is non-existent in vampiric society. Can you do the math?

_Wow!

_For what is worth, in this instance I don’t think young Cintia has the destruction of her husband by you in her mind. For that she would wait another decade and give you time to catch up with her beloved Ernan in fighting skills. She probably honestly wishes to preserve his life. That’s why she is pushing the situation so fast.

_Love conquer all, it seems. Good for the merry couple! I suppose.

_Indeed. There is also the fact that Ernan has his Sunflower Seed. It is a powerful advantage, specially matched with the Gourmet Seed. And strong than average telepathy. This portfolio make him the perfect agent for situations where walk through human society without call attention is important. That utility for the family, by its turn, means he will end up as protégé and paramour of some elder aunt in the family. That means Cintia’s fate is to end up as plaything for this sadistic elder mistress of her husband. However, if Ernan fights you to the death, his only way to actually end your existence for good is to “drink your soul” consuming the last drop of blood from your hearth. There is a exceptionally high change that who does that also wins your exceptional physical vigour.

_What would make him even more useful.

_...along with the physical mutations that would make impossible for him to walk undetected and play the role of spy for the family pretending to be human. What make my dear nephew considerably less useful, and less likely to keep his favourite aunt interested.

_Meaning no offense, why are you telling me all that, aunt Anissa?

_Because, this hypothetical feminine sponsor Ernan would hypothetically have is not necessarily universally loved.

_Not loved by you.

_I am part of the Universe.

_You gave me no reason for distrust, First Appriser. Assuming I buy all that. What I can do about it?

_Best thing would be to unfuck Ernan’s wife, not involving yourself in a case of adultery. Since that is sadly not realistic option, next best thing for you is to win the duel and consume Ernan’s soul, instead of being consumed by him.

_Easy as pie, then! He is just one decade ahead of me in experience, and actually knows what he is doing.

_That’s why we need to buy you some time. And get you initiated in the illustrious art of duel to the death between vampires. If situation escalate before I manage either of those things just try to keep the distance between you and your opponent as small as possible. His combat skills are mind manipulation and telekinesis, both work at a range of several meters. He will try to decapitate you using any available blade he can move with his power. Only things you have are your claws and fangs, those work only in very close distance, and he knows that.

_Hum.

_If you somehow, against the odds, find yourself victorious. Don’t forget to rip his hearth from his body and such up to the last drop of blood in it. Once you start, instinct should do the rest. Let it happen! Because in this first fight Enan will be under influence of passion, and that is bad for his fighting style. If he gets the chance to recover after being defeated your chances drop, considerably.

_You, really though it through. Didn’t you?

_Common sense come with experience. I am living by the end of the week to represent the family in another Nocturnal Court, close some deals. I brought you a formal invitation to accompany me, as my protégé.

_Boytoy.

_Sugar baby, if you must. Naturally the implied assumption everybody will make is that I am using my position as an influential Elder to claim you, leaving you no other option but to became my lover. In reality I am just saving your life, as a good aunt should. For the “goodness of my hearth”, as the expression say. You will, however, share the bed with my apprentice, Katherine and stay in her company all the time until we leave. This will at least reduce the chances of Ernan catch you in middle of intercourse with his wife. Undoubtedly what sweet darling Cintia has in mind.

_Devious.

_You know that common notion that men are competitive and motivated for power above all. While women on the contrary are nourishing and seek safety and compromise instead of confrontation. Men accept high risks for high rewards, while women choose peace.

_I am familiar with the notion.

_Then drop it in the garbage where it belongs. Because compared to my sweet niece Cintia my dear nephew Ernand, her husband, looks almost as detached from world ambitions as Prince Sidharta. Who, by the way, had the most beautifully sad eyes I ever saw! Only human to ever escape being turned into a vampire against his will, just because the Queen Vampire who would have turned him could not sustain his stare. Possibly the most impressive confrontation of will I ever saw!! And, I am now digressing, what is a clue to indicate that this conversation has lasted a moment longer than it should.

_I am not complaining. So, you mean, the Indian prince. THAT Indian prince?

_I am leaving. Just one last thing you must know.

_Yes?

_My dear Katherine is a guest from an allied family. She is a handful of centuries old as a vampire, and her, prudish personality, is starting to annoy some of her elders. One of whom is a friend of mine and asked me as a favour that I get the young lassie some sexual experience.

_So…?

_As her mentor in the arts of Apprisal Seed development I found justified ground to punish the poor lassie.

_What is relevant to mention in this conversation, because…

_You are going to expend every minute of your time awake torturing the girl. Mostly sexually, I must insist in that point, she is supposed to be a virgin still. Do things gradually, but don’t leave any inch of her body unexplored. She is a vampire, and you didn’t developed any poison in your claws yet. There is no chance for you to accidentally cause the girl long lasting damage. Make it painful, mostly. Somewhat pleasant too, now and them, for the sake of variate the flavour. Above all, don’t be dull! We want to give the girl something to cry about, when she describe herself as the victim of unthinkable abuses to her Queen. Her Queen being that elder who asked me this favour, goes without saying.

_That is not in my job description, madam.

_Qui pro quo, nephew. I am saving your immortal existence with this little plot. You are only doing me a small favour in return.