Mornings were always Natsu's least favorite time of the day. Being a vampire, that was only natural because sunlight served as both a type of weakness and pain to vampires. So you can imagine how upset he was when Erza told him that he was going to have to work during the day. After Erza had received information on Regine from both Natsu and Wendy she became more determined to find her. She had looked back in Archibald's diary, read up on the chapters in regard to Regine, and to see if there was anyone other than Archibald who had encountered that woman and come back alive.
According to what she read, the only known survivor was a former apprentice of his. Gildarts Clive. As a teenager, he began studying and training with Archibald and was with him when he went up against Regine. Archibald's writings said that Gildarts proved to be an exceptional hunter and probably would have been one of the best but he gave up on training after he got his girlfriend at the time pregnant. The last entry on Gildarts revealed that he moved on to own a pub in Magnolia which was managed by his daughter. He asked Natsu and the others to visit the pub, see if Gildarts still owned it, and find out what he knew about Regine.
Erza didn't come because she had to fill out some papers and make some calls however she did allow Wendy to accompany them. Also she advised Natsu and Gray to hold off what species they really were until they knew what kind of views Gildarts would have on vampires and other creatures of the occult.
"But it's day time." Natsu argued with Erza. "I'm not supposed to be out during the day."
"If you take your injections then you should be fine." She said. "You won't disintegrate."
"I'm not worried about that. Being up during the day is exhausting. It makes me feel jet lagged. Also my power is weaker when the sun is out."
"Natsu once I've given you an injection the sun cannot harm you and if you are in no danger of being destroyed by solar energy then you have no valid reason to go back to sleep. Not when there are more pressing matters at the moment."
"But why do I have to go? Why can't you just send the others over there without me?"
"Because you're a hunter, Regine is your prey, and the best hunters learn about their prey before going after them."
"If that's the case then why aren't you coming?"
"I told you. I have smooth things over with the authorities about the fight with the demon leech. As far as the government and the common man know, the only profession I have is owner of the Dreyar's American weapon manufacturing business. Not the head of an organization that fights, destroys, and/or rehabilitates monsters. Gray's true form was seen by a lot of civilians and police the other night."
"Do they suspect you?"
"No but I need to make absolutely sure that they don't. We have people on the inside Natsu and it's their job to make sure that my name isn't even mentioned by members of government when stuff like this happens. Now the lot of them are very loyal and willing to help me no matter what but there a few who need a little more persuasion."
"Persuasion?"
"A little sweet talk in the language that everyone around the world knows and listens to."
"English?"
"Money."
"Ah. So sometimes you have to pay them a little more dough to keep their trap shut."
"Either that or erase their memory of the entire organization but the latter is much more difficult and expensive. Not to mention it could cause possible brain damage."
"Have you ever erased someone's memory before?"
"Only in dire emergencies. We can't risk what we do getting out. People will panic and the government would probably try to shut us down and hush us up."
"Why? I always thought your government, the democracy was the best one."
"It is but here's an interesting fact about life Natsu. No form of government can be trusted one hundred percent. In every system of power there's always going to be at least one person with the desire to abuse it."
"That still doesn't explain why the government would want to shut you down."
"Because our service provides evidence that the supernatural evil like witchcraft and demons actually exists in this world and the government doesn't want the world to know that."
"Why?"
"Some just don't believe that such evil is real and doesn't want what they believe to be lunacy to be spread. Others who do believe, say it's to prevent chaos and panic and maybe there are members who actually do believe that crock but I think the main reason is because they want to be the only organization that people turn to for help. The government can handle natural problems and evils, if people only fear natural problems and evils then they'll see the government as a system with all the answers and means of protection because they pay for the police, doctors, trading, that stuff."
"Which in a way allows them to be controlled."
"Correct. But if more people start fearing supernatural problems and evils, which the government can't handle they'll look to someone or some other system for answers and means of protection. Certain members of the government see my work as a threat to their political control and so they want people in my position silenced so everyone else can be ignorant and easy to control. Now mind you not all members are like that. Half of them just think people like me are crazy and that there is no supernatural evil out there. But the point is if the government finds out about us it's game over and heaven only knows what will happen then."
"No wonder you're always so stressed."
"I am not stressed."
"You have high blood pressure and don't bother denying it. I'm a vampire, it's in my nature to know and sense all types and conditions of a person's blood."
"That doesn't necessarily mean I'm stressed."
"True but you're in your twenties, you don't smoke or chew tobacco, you're definitely active, and judging by your blood taste you have a healthy diet, drink an appropriate amount of alcohol, and have no high blood pressure genes. So stress would be the logical cause."
"Wait a minute you found out what my diet, alcohol level, and genes are just by the taste of my blood?"
"Blood does more than sustain a vampires existence. I mean that is the main reason they drink blood but there other effects to ingesting it. It will allow us to learn about a human's health, body type, blood type, organ system, genetics, and in some cases even their psychology. You know if we didn't need to consume human blood we would make great doctors."
"I didn't know that. Why didn't you ever tell me that?"
"You never asked."
"Wait you can see into a human's psychology? As in see into their mind?"
"Yes."
"Does that mean you know everything that goes on in my head?" She asked fearing whatever secret inner thoughts he may have seen.
"No. To do that you would I would have to drink a little of you fresh and then you would have to drink a little from me."
"Drink your blood?"
"Yep. By doing so a telepathic connection would be established. I could see into your mind but you could also see into mine. I've drank your blood fresh plenty of times but you've never drank any of mine so I have no idea what goes on in that noggin of yours."
"But wouldn't drinking blood from a vampire turn someone into a vampire as well?"
"Only if you get bitten first. The thing is a human body can only take so much vampire D.N.A getting into their system. When a vampire bites you they inject a little of their saliva into your body but if it's just that little bit then white blood cells will most likely fight it off. Same if you take a small taste of vampire blood without getting bitten. But if you were to drink a vampire's blood after getting bitten that's more lethal D.N.A than what white blood cells can handle. Thus your human D.N.A dies and the vampire D.N.A takes over."
"But what about people who are killed by vampires via bite? I highly doubt they were all fed vampire blood yet they still came back as nosferatu."
"Yes and that's because they died. When humans die white bloods cease to work so there's nothing to fight off that bit of vampire saliva which is still working and with nothing to stop it, it easily takes over the dead human corpse the soul left behind. Which means that dead vampire victims can't be cured. If a human is bitten and dies from it then there's no hope. No way of reversing it. They might as well be eliminated. Hell, they're not even the same person anymore. They're just a dead body walking around."
"But aren't you dead?"
"Uh...Sort of. I mean my heart stopped when I was turned but I didn't suffer any injury or disease. I guess you could say I'm half dead."
"I wonder if that means you can be cured."
"If my human D.N.A is still alive then I guess I could. But I don't know. D.N.A wasn't fully established around the time I turned myself."
"We'll talk more on this later. Right now just get down to that pub and find Gildarts."
"Does it really have to be done during the day time?"
"Yes because pubs are more busy and rowdy at night. So get moving."
"Fine." He groaned.