Disclaimer: I own nothing JKR owns all before you. I do not make any
claims.
World of Darkness
Chapter 4: Dark Blood
No human entered the vampire cave of the clan Ravoc and came out alive. You either died and were reborn as a child of the night, or you simply ceased to exist. The Vampires of this clan lived in it's shadows for thousands of years, each generation passing down the ancestral home to the next. They had possessed the cave for indeterminate years, and no vampire that currently resided in its depths could recall it's founding. Yet no more important work has transpired in that cave then what was to transpire that night. It was this night that they would begin the schooling of a living human in the arts of the dead. Arts that since the beginning of time have solely belonged to the vampire race. Humans could only begin to understand the powers that blood possessed. They dabbled with it in their potions and swore by it in their rituals, but they couldn't access it's true worth. Only when you lived by it did you find it's true worth.
******
The soft velvet of the blanket that Harry was wrapped in were the first thing he became aware of when he awoke. For the first time in his life he didn't awake to the bitter cold of not having a blanket to keep warm under. The soft bed was a complete contrast to what he had spent his life resting upon. His cot in the cupboard was by no means comforting, and often a spring would bite into his skin. He wanted to be able to curl up in the warmth that surrounded him and never move again.
The events of the prior night washed back through Harry's mind like a floodgate being released upon dry land. Fear swept his mind when he realized that he was in the crypt of a vampire. The fact that he could still feel his heartbeat in his chest, and that he was still warm was the only reaffirmation that he had not been killed in his sleep.
Indecision was the next emotion that played across his mind. Was he making the right decision in staying with the Vampires, or was he leading himself down the path to his own destruction. Knowing that he could defend himself against a few vampires was no consolation to the fear of being surrounded by hundreds of them.
Upon taking his first look around the room he had slept in, the only word that would describe his reaction would be utter surprise. The room was about the size of the Dursley's living room, and was illuminated by several wall torches that cast dim light around the rooms depths. Apart from the large bed he had slept in, the room contained few pieces of furniture. The walls of the chamber were lined with bookcases and hundreds of musty tomes adorned the shelves. A few comfortable leather chairs were spaced around the room, and sitting tables were at the side. The man Harry had meet the night before sat at a table in the far corner of the room. A chess set lay before him and he seemed to be in deep contemplation.
Slowly rising from the depths of the covers, Harry found clothes waiting for him at the foot of the bed. His old things were removed and Harry wasn't to upset over their disappearance. Harry rose and picked up the clothes, which he could only describe as odd. He put on a black pair of breeches, and lifted the courtier shirt that was set beside them. It's oddly billowing sleeves came down to the small cuffs and a few buttons rose on it's collar. Harry slipped the white shirt over his head a pulled it into place. He did his best to make it lay right, though he had no idea if it was worn properly. A deep crimson tunic lay off to the side and Harry slipped it on as well. It was done in a extremely soft material, and the sleeveless shoulders were outlawed with a golden trim cord. The neck was cut low and the collar of his shirt stuck out the top, the golden cord ran around the neck as well. Harry fastened the bottom of the tunic, which fell to his knees, in place with a black belt around his waist. The gold of the buckle went well with the gold cord and all together Harry looked like a young squire from medieval times.
Harry quietly approached the vampire and was about to speak when the vampire motioned for him to stop. He pointed to the chair on the other side of his table, then moved a piece across the board. The vampire portrayed utter patience and made few movements as he contemplated a counter to the move he had just made. The two sat in silence for what seemed like hours before Harry choose to speak and break the silence.
"Who are you?" The vampire interested Harry, and he could no longer take the uncomfortable silence in which the vampire was reveling. The vampire did not look up from his board, but answered Harry after a minute more of silence.
"Interesting question that is. Have you ever truly thought about it? When one has lived for as long as I, one has time to contemplate these questions." The vampire had greatly vexed Harry, he thought his question was quite obvious.
"I simply wondered what I should call you?" Maybe the vampire was out of his mind, perhaps he had lived so long that he had lost his sanity.
"Two very different questions, both equally different answers. Neither straight forward in their answers. Let's examine them for a moment. What should you call me? Well, I have been called many things over the centuries. However, I could very well tell you I'm the queen of England. It wouldn't be true, but it would be an answer to your question. Tell me, how do you know I am who I say I am?" The Vampire slid another chess piece across the board to take a pawn on the other side.
"I guess I don't really know? I just have to trust that you are telling me the truth. Though I don't think I'd believe you if you told me your the queen." The Vampire changed his focus from the chess board to Harry.
"What determines who you should trust and who you shouldn't, is everyone trustworthy? If so then you'd be quite gullible to believe everything anyone tells you. Perhaps the answer you seek lies in how one is judged and found to be trustworthy." Harry scrunched his eyebrows together, he concentrated on the Vampires question.
"You can't just tell if you can trust someone, trust is earned over time. Some people who look like you can trust them can be just as untrustworthy as someone who looks like you can't. Same goes for people who don't look trustworthy. You have to wait to see." The vampire smiled at Harry and then proceeded in his questioning.
"So tell me this, is it better to give everyone trust to begin with or to not trust them until they have proved themselves to you?" Again Harry was unsure of how to proceed. If you put your faith in someone they could easily hurt you, but Harry wanted to believe that people were innately nice. The Dursley's flashed through his mind and he knew his answer.
"One should have to earn trust." Harry said it with more conviction then the Vampire expected from the boy.
"Very well, this brings us back to your first question. What you call someone is the external layer to asking some one who they are. Who a person is hides beneath the surface of what they show to everyone around. One can be good on the outside and have evil in their hearts, just as one can appear to be evil and truly have a honest heart. When you ask someone who they are you tell them you trust them enough to believe what they tell you. If you don't trust them, you shouldn't ask that question. Do you trust me Shade?" The very fact that he hadn't told them his name was enough to prove to himself that he didn't trust the vampire.
"I don't know yet, I haven't known you long enough to trust you." The vampire leaned back in his chair.
"Good answer! Most around here call me elder, this is because I am the oldest vampire in our clan. I have walked the earth for close to two thousand years. Now my young squire, you have to make a decision. Do you stay and learn what I offer you, or do you walk out into the night alone once more. With either choice I offer you my vow of protection. None of our clan will harm you, that is something you can trust." The vampire spoke with conviction. The words which the elder spoke swirled around Harry's head, was this vampire truly worthy of trust. Would he accept his vow of protection, or was this all to get close enough to kill him. The fact that he had survived through his sleep was conformation that the Vampire would not harm him. So Harry would accept the offer of refuge for now.
"I accept your offer, and I hope I will be able to trust you eventually." The Vampire gave his strange version of a smile once more and then made a motion to the door. Fiona had been standing in the doorway and now walked into the room. She took a seat by one of the smaller tables.
"Fiona will be instructing you, this will be your room while you stay with us. Here you will do your studying, once you have a feel for our society you will be allowed to leave and explore the cave system. My library is at your disposable, however you will be unable to read them until you learn the basics of the vampiric language. So I leave you in Fiona's capable hands." With that he rose and exited the chamber. Fiona looked carefully at Harry for a few moments before speaking. She tried to understand what the secret was behind this boy, but was unable to unwrap his enigma.
"Let's get one thing straight before we begin, what you learn is never to be told to another soul. You are never to reveal the secrets I will be teaching you. If you do I will brake my oath to you and tear you to pieces. Now that we have that out of the way, let's begin." Harry was completely astonished at the way her attitude could change in seconds.
"Blood contains some of the most powerful magic you could ever imagine. Through blood vampires can strengthen everything about themselves. Our strength, speed, magic, healing, and everything else we do depends on blood. Not only do we use it's magic to live, we use it in every aspect of our lives. We harness it and control it in which ever way we see fit. When we feed we filter the magic from the blood and store it for our use. When we do not feed we deplete our blood magic." Harry raised his hand to ask a question, Fiona found this quite amusing but kept her laughter to herself.
"Then how can I learn to use it, I don't want to drink blood. That's just disgusting, and all gross." Harry stopped when he remembered that he was talking to a vampire who regularly made her meal on blood.
"You don't have to drink blood if you don't want to. Humans are a bit different than vampires as you might have guessed. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if you already have used blood magic, and if you haven't you would have sometime. There are many storied of Muggles doing things like lifting heavy objects that they wouldn't be able to lift. When threatened Muggles run much faster than they would normally run. Wizards trust in their magic and overlook these things, they call them natural responses to raised chemical levels in the body. A vampire would tell you that in circumstances of great stress Muggles tap into blood magic. The only difference is that Muggles can not focus it like Vampires. They use all the blood magic their bodies store in one uncontrolled burst. Vampires can focus it to make much better use of the magic. Vampires feed because their bodies can no longer produce fresh blood, with new magic in it. Muggles are constantly making fresh blood, that is why they don't need to feed like we do." Harry was a bit confused about a couple things and raised his hand once more.
"What's a Muggle? What's the difference between Blood magic and the magic wizards do?" Questions swirled in Harry's mind at the over exertion of new knowledge.
"Muggles are people without magic, however that is only based in wizard terms. There are many different forms of magic out there Shade. Wizards channel magic through spells and wands, they foolishly think if you don't practice their way you have no magic. Other groups use other focuses for their magic. Vampires focus their magic through the blood. This is also why vampires can turn anyone into another Vampire, while a wizard cannot make someone into a wizard. Blood magic exists in all, therefore they all can become a Vampire. Do you have any other questions?" Harry thought over what she had told him before replying, of course he had more questions.
"You said that Vampires can focus the magic in the blood, how will I be able to do that?" Fiona smiled at the boy and then moved to the chair across the table where the elder had just previously sat.
"When a human becomes a vampire their body isn't the only thing that changes. A part of their mind activates as well. This portion instructs the body in how to draw magic out of consumed blood, and also how to focus the blood inside of you. It tells how you can focus blood to certain parts of your body, and burn the magic in the blood so that you can use it in it's raw form. If you will allow me I will attempt to link my mind with yours and make that change without changing your body with the vampire blood." Harry considered the Vampire, this was the first one he had meet. She had tried to protect him when the fight broke out, and she had done nothing to break his trust. It was still a tough decision to let the Vampire to make a change to him, however this magic was very interesting to Harry and he wanted to learn more.
"If I have your word you won't do anything else I will allow it." Fiona wasn't planing to give him a choice one way or another, but she decided the change may go better if he decided to accept it instead of forcing it on him.
"I give you my oath!" Harry noted that oaths were very important amongst the vampires he had meet. It was ironic how little most people thought before giving out promises, yet these vampires put so much importance on their word. It really made sense though, if one didn't have their word what did they have.
Harry nodded for Fiona to continue, he was about to ask what he needed to do when he felt her. It felt like someone was pushing at him on the inside. Like when you blow a bubble and then try to slip something into it. The bubble bends at first, but soon it allows admittance and reforms around the foreign object. In this case Harrys' mind was the bubble and Fiona was the foreign object. The harder Fiona pushed the more Harry felt like he was straining to not allow her to enter. Fiona was surprised at the level of defense the boys mind had developed. With his permission she should have no trouble puncturing into his consciousness, yet the walls of his mind would not allow her admittance. She pushed with all her considerable might before she felt a slight give and knew she was sliding into his consciousness. She briefly had time to wonder how much force her sire had to exert to make the boy sleep. It must have taken more of a effort than he let show. Once the boy learned to use blood to enhance his barriers he would be practically uncontrollable. Perhaps the elder might be able to penetrate, but she was sure she would not be able to.
Harry felt her break into his mind. It came with a feeling of nakedness, like something had been put where it didn't belong. He was also aware of another feeling welling up inside of him. At first he assumed Fiona was making the change, then he began to remember feeling like this before. It was the same feeling as when the void had gained control of him before. He was aware that the empty void inside him was again beginning to stir at the intrusion.
Fiona sifted through Harrys' mind, searching for the subconscious command that would allow the boy to control the blood and sift power from it. All was normal at first, but she soon became aware that it felt like something was watching her. She pushed the feeling aside in favor of continuing her search inside the boy. She was soon rewarded when she found what she had been searching for. Now she had to examine her own mind, and imprint her own action patterns upon his. As she focused upon the task at happened she lost awareness of the surrounding darkness that was reaching out to her.
She had just finished when it came from nowhere. It felt like thousands of hands had grabbed her and were dragging her to God knows where. Indeterminate shapes wrapped around her extended subconscious and threatened to rip her mind away into oblivion. She focused her own blood magic upon her mental powers and strained to pull free from the boys mind. Yet his mind just formed new anchors to drag her deeper into him. She knew she didn't have much time, something was protecting the boys mind. When she entered it reacted to her presence. Something had determined her intrusion as a threat and sought to end her existence. Since it wasn't a physical assault, it choose to drag her into itself and devour her mind.
Harry was aware of the new struggle, he could feel Fiona trying to pull free. He could feel her strengthen, yet get nowhere in her attempt to withdraw from his mind. He tried to put the new feelings that washed through his body to the side so that he could attempt to calm the void once more. The sensation of feeling the blood flowing through his heart and veins was amazing, yet he had to focus. He felt the power of the blood welling inside him, like a fountain it washed through his very being. Harry closed his eyes and called for order once more. Pain washed through him as he fought to quell his own natural defenses. Yet the knowledge he gained from the darkness told him that if he didn't help she would be lost forever within him. He slowly pried the shadows away from her and she quickly withdrew from his mind and back into her own conscious. Yet still Harrys' defenses refused to let go. It followed Fiona into her own mind and attempted to drag her back into his. After briefly considering whether he should, he followed the darkness into her mind.
It was like a new level of consciousness, like he was himself and her at the same time. He knew he could change her to his liking, but he also knew just how wrong that would be. Harry didn't have time to contemplate this because the darkness was now rapidly spreading throughout her mind. Threatening to drive her insane inside herself. Harry focused with all his control and called to the shadows to come back to him. Slowly they receded from her. He had time to see how organized her thoughts were. Everything had a purpose and nothing was jumbled. She was so controlled and concentrated that Harry envied her. Before Harry withdrew completely he felt a part of her touch his mind. He felt thankfulness flowing from her mind into him. Harry withdrew as best he could and he felt her close the link.
The pain of fighting filled both Harry and Fiona, they knew just how close it had been to the end for her and neither seemed willing to speak. Harry was overcome by the situation, he was mentally exhausted from the exertion. Yet he could now allow himself to focus on the new feelings that flitted throughout his body. It was a feeling that he could only equate with being truly alive. Like his whole being pulsed with life and magic that he never knew was there. In seconds he forgot how he could ever have lived without this feeling. Blood moved in him like water through a hose, he could feel his heart pushing it throughout his body. He could control how his heart beat, speeding his pulse till he felt alive with unused energy. He could slow it down till it barely beat. Fiona looked up from the spot on the table where she had been concentrating to regain control of herself.
"Be careful Shade, if you slow your heart down enough it may never start again." Harry allowed his heart to return to a normal pace and immersed himself in the feel of the movement within himself. He could form no words to describe the ecstasy that pulsed inside him.
Fiona contemplated how close she came to losing herself in his mind. She said a silent prayer for any who were foolish enough to try to brake into his mind and control him. If it weren't for the boy's efforts she would have gone insane. Now she had to refocus herself and teach the boy the basics of the gift she had given to him.
"Now Shade, we must go over a few things before we progress down this path. First, I must urge you to exercise caution in how you proceed. This gift was never meant for those who live. Blood is constantly circulating in you and to alter it to severely may result in your death. Second, though your blood does regenerate new magic, you are by no means a fountain of the magic. If you deplete the magic in the blood you could find yourself lacking it when you need it. That is also why I might suggest you contemplate drinking blood here and there. Though it's not necessary, it will be beneficial in helping to rebuild the magic stores in you when you use it. We won't press that unless you feel willing to do so later. For now you should rest. Your body has just truly awakened to itself and you need to settle to it's feel before I teach you to break the blood down for it's base magic." Harry smiled at her and then leaned back into his chair. He closed his eyes and continued to bask in the warm feeling that had swept over him. He felt like his skin had come alive and was tingling with something he couldn't aptly describe.
The magic was there, moving beneath the surface. It ran through him, waiting to be harnessed and used. Harry let himself slip into this feeling of new life. He closed his eyes in the chair and fell into a slumber that was enriched by the by warm feeling that rattled within him.
Fiona watched him drift off. She had to feed now, it had taken more out of her than she had thought to change the boy. She silently told the boy to rest well, because in a few hours she would push him to limits he didn't know he had.
******
A/N: Hope you all liked the chapter! Wasn't as much action in this chapter, but wait till you see what happens next time! It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.
dog-boy: Thanks a lot and I'm glad you like the fic. Yeah I know I got a few spelling mistakes here and there and I plan to be removing them quite soon. I just wanted to get to chapter five first. I have been looking for a beta, and I'm still not really set on one yet. I'm new to this writing fan fic stuff. I'll consider you for it though.
Tom: Thanks and I appreciate your comment. I don't think Harry really knew what he was getting himself into in the last chapter. Going with one vampire is a bit different than walking around with hundreds. Harry will be a little bit tentative in the future despite the fact that he has the elders oath. Trust is a issue we'll be getting into in the future, especially with Fiona. Obtenebration? Really, I don't believe I've ever heard that word before. I'm going to have to check to see if it's a real word. I am excited to add a new word to my vocabulary.
Otaku Freak: Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you like the fic.
BlackDragon: Thank you for the compliment, I hope you like this chapter as much as you liked the last!
PR LUCKEN: I'm glad you liked it, Thanks for the review. It's always appreciated.
Fireangle: I'm glad you like my writing style, I appreciate the review.
BloodRedSword: Thanks for reading my fic, and I thank you for reviewing!
Cr1MsOn^D3v1L: Thanks, I'll keep the updates coming!
ZeonReborn: I'm glad my fic is worth reading! The future for Harry is a open book, he will make it to Hogwarts when he is eleven. But there are things that will lead him in that direction later. Remember Harry is on a quest to find out who he is, and where he belongs. This will eventually lead him to the wizards, right now he doesn't even know he is one. Harry will have pairings, but right now he is a bit young for that kinda stuff. Plus I'm not sure if the living and dead copulate? Interesting concept though. Interesting questions by the way. Here is what I have been able to figure out so far.
Some fics make it that they do age very slow, usually because they don't want to leave Harry as a scrawny whelp for all eternity. Others, Vampires are considered to be immortal and never age. I've even read some where they never age, but can allow themselves to age if they want to. I believe that they maintain appearance after the embrace. Kinda like in Interview with the Vampire and that little girl. I use the term elder to define the patriarch of the clan. He who is the longest living, and therefore has leadership of the clan. As one ages so does there powers become more potent. We'll see this in more detail in the next chapter! Harry a vampire, that limits his future to much for my liking. Plus I'm not sure how he'd react to the disease in him. We'll have to see.
Medic: I'm glad you like the story. Thank you for taking the time to review it.
Ariel: I'm glad you like it. In my opinion no one can live in a house like the Dursley's and not walk away with some serious problems with there sense of self and write and wrong. One can only be told they are worthless so many time before it leaves a print on them. This is as true as the fact that kids tend to gain there sense of what the world is like through there parents. Harry had the Dursley's and therefore his picture is warped. He is now having to define the lines for himself and that will be a struggle in itself.
Pheonix Flight: Thanks for the review, I appreciate your comments!
World of Darkness
Chapter 4: Dark Blood
No human entered the vampire cave of the clan Ravoc and came out alive. You either died and were reborn as a child of the night, or you simply ceased to exist. The Vampires of this clan lived in it's shadows for thousands of years, each generation passing down the ancestral home to the next. They had possessed the cave for indeterminate years, and no vampire that currently resided in its depths could recall it's founding. Yet no more important work has transpired in that cave then what was to transpire that night. It was this night that they would begin the schooling of a living human in the arts of the dead. Arts that since the beginning of time have solely belonged to the vampire race. Humans could only begin to understand the powers that blood possessed. They dabbled with it in their potions and swore by it in their rituals, but they couldn't access it's true worth. Only when you lived by it did you find it's true worth.
******
The soft velvet of the blanket that Harry was wrapped in were the first thing he became aware of when he awoke. For the first time in his life he didn't awake to the bitter cold of not having a blanket to keep warm under. The soft bed was a complete contrast to what he had spent his life resting upon. His cot in the cupboard was by no means comforting, and often a spring would bite into his skin. He wanted to be able to curl up in the warmth that surrounded him and never move again.
The events of the prior night washed back through Harry's mind like a floodgate being released upon dry land. Fear swept his mind when he realized that he was in the crypt of a vampire. The fact that he could still feel his heartbeat in his chest, and that he was still warm was the only reaffirmation that he had not been killed in his sleep.
Indecision was the next emotion that played across his mind. Was he making the right decision in staying with the Vampires, or was he leading himself down the path to his own destruction. Knowing that he could defend himself against a few vampires was no consolation to the fear of being surrounded by hundreds of them.
Upon taking his first look around the room he had slept in, the only word that would describe his reaction would be utter surprise. The room was about the size of the Dursley's living room, and was illuminated by several wall torches that cast dim light around the rooms depths. Apart from the large bed he had slept in, the room contained few pieces of furniture. The walls of the chamber were lined with bookcases and hundreds of musty tomes adorned the shelves. A few comfortable leather chairs were spaced around the room, and sitting tables were at the side. The man Harry had meet the night before sat at a table in the far corner of the room. A chess set lay before him and he seemed to be in deep contemplation.
Slowly rising from the depths of the covers, Harry found clothes waiting for him at the foot of the bed. His old things were removed and Harry wasn't to upset over their disappearance. Harry rose and picked up the clothes, which he could only describe as odd. He put on a black pair of breeches, and lifted the courtier shirt that was set beside them. It's oddly billowing sleeves came down to the small cuffs and a few buttons rose on it's collar. Harry slipped the white shirt over his head a pulled it into place. He did his best to make it lay right, though he had no idea if it was worn properly. A deep crimson tunic lay off to the side and Harry slipped it on as well. It was done in a extremely soft material, and the sleeveless shoulders were outlawed with a golden trim cord. The neck was cut low and the collar of his shirt stuck out the top, the golden cord ran around the neck as well. Harry fastened the bottom of the tunic, which fell to his knees, in place with a black belt around his waist. The gold of the buckle went well with the gold cord and all together Harry looked like a young squire from medieval times.
Harry quietly approached the vampire and was about to speak when the vampire motioned for him to stop. He pointed to the chair on the other side of his table, then moved a piece across the board. The vampire portrayed utter patience and made few movements as he contemplated a counter to the move he had just made. The two sat in silence for what seemed like hours before Harry choose to speak and break the silence.
"Who are you?" The vampire interested Harry, and he could no longer take the uncomfortable silence in which the vampire was reveling. The vampire did not look up from his board, but answered Harry after a minute more of silence.
"Interesting question that is. Have you ever truly thought about it? When one has lived for as long as I, one has time to contemplate these questions." The vampire had greatly vexed Harry, he thought his question was quite obvious.
"I simply wondered what I should call you?" Maybe the vampire was out of his mind, perhaps he had lived so long that he had lost his sanity.
"Two very different questions, both equally different answers. Neither straight forward in their answers. Let's examine them for a moment. What should you call me? Well, I have been called many things over the centuries. However, I could very well tell you I'm the queen of England. It wouldn't be true, but it would be an answer to your question. Tell me, how do you know I am who I say I am?" The Vampire slid another chess piece across the board to take a pawn on the other side.
"I guess I don't really know? I just have to trust that you are telling me the truth. Though I don't think I'd believe you if you told me your the queen." The Vampire changed his focus from the chess board to Harry.
"What determines who you should trust and who you shouldn't, is everyone trustworthy? If so then you'd be quite gullible to believe everything anyone tells you. Perhaps the answer you seek lies in how one is judged and found to be trustworthy." Harry scrunched his eyebrows together, he concentrated on the Vampires question.
"You can't just tell if you can trust someone, trust is earned over time. Some people who look like you can trust them can be just as untrustworthy as someone who looks like you can't. Same goes for people who don't look trustworthy. You have to wait to see." The vampire smiled at Harry and then proceeded in his questioning.
"So tell me this, is it better to give everyone trust to begin with or to not trust them until they have proved themselves to you?" Again Harry was unsure of how to proceed. If you put your faith in someone they could easily hurt you, but Harry wanted to believe that people were innately nice. The Dursley's flashed through his mind and he knew his answer.
"One should have to earn trust." Harry said it with more conviction then the Vampire expected from the boy.
"Very well, this brings us back to your first question. What you call someone is the external layer to asking some one who they are. Who a person is hides beneath the surface of what they show to everyone around. One can be good on the outside and have evil in their hearts, just as one can appear to be evil and truly have a honest heart. When you ask someone who they are you tell them you trust them enough to believe what they tell you. If you don't trust them, you shouldn't ask that question. Do you trust me Shade?" The very fact that he hadn't told them his name was enough to prove to himself that he didn't trust the vampire.
"I don't know yet, I haven't known you long enough to trust you." The vampire leaned back in his chair.
"Good answer! Most around here call me elder, this is because I am the oldest vampire in our clan. I have walked the earth for close to two thousand years. Now my young squire, you have to make a decision. Do you stay and learn what I offer you, or do you walk out into the night alone once more. With either choice I offer you my vow of protection. None of our clan will harm you, that is something you can trust." The vampire spoke with conviction. The words which the elder spoke swirled around Harry's head, was this vampire truly worthy of trust. Would he accept his vow of protection, or was this all to get close enough to kill him. The fact that he had survived through his sleep was conformation that the Vampire would not harm him. So Harry would accept the offer of refuge for now.
"I accept your offer, and I hope I will be able to trust you eventually." The Vampire gave his strange version of a smile once more and then made a motion to the door. Fiona had been standing in the doorway and now walked into the room. She took a seat by one of the smaller tables.
"Fiona will be instructing you, this will be your room while you stay with us. Here you will do your studying, once you have a feel for our society you will be allowed to leave and explore the cave system. My library is at your disposable, however you will be unable to read them until you learn the basics of the vampiric language. So I leave you in Fiona's capable hands." With that he rose and exited the chamber. Fiona looked carefully at Harry for a few moments before speaking. She tried to understand what the secret was behind this boy, but was unable to unwrap his enigma.
"Let's get one thing straight before we begin, what you learn is never to be told to another soul. You are never to reveal the secrets I will be teaching you. If you do I will brake my oath to you and tear you to pieces. Now that we have that out of the way, let's begin." Harry was completely astonished at the way her attitude could change in seconds.
"Blood contains some of the most powerful magic you could ever imagine. Through blood vampires can strengthen everything about themselves. Our strength, speed, magic, healing, and everything else we do depends on blood. Not only do we use it's magic to live, we use it in every aspect of our lives. We harness it and control it in which ever way we see fit. When we feed we filter the magic from the blood and store it for our use. When we do not feed we deplete our blood magic." Harry raised his hand to ask a question, Fiona found this quite amusing but kept her laughter to herself.
"Then how can I learn to use it, I don't want to drink blood. That's just disgusting, and all gross." Harry stopped when he remembered that he was talking to a vampire who regularly made her meal on blood.
"You don't have to drink blood if you don't want to. Humans are a bit different than vampires as you might have guessed. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if you already have used blood magic, and if you haven't you would have sometime. There are many storied of Muggles doing things like lifting heavy objects that they wouldn't be able to lift. When threatened Muggles run much faster than they would normally run. Wizards trust in their magic and overlook these things, they call them natural responses to raised chemical levels in the body. A vampire would tell you that in circumstances of great stress Muggles tap into blood magic. The only difference is that Muggles can not focus it like Vampires. They use all the blood magic their bodies store in one uncontrolled burst. Vampires can focus it to make much better use of the magic. Vampires feed because their bodies can no longer produce fresh blood, with new magic in it. Muggles are constantly making fresh blood, that is why they don't need to feed like we do." Harry was a bit confused about a couple things and raised his hand once more.
"What's a Muggle? What's the difference between Blood magic and the magic wizards do?" Questions swirled in Harry's mind at the over exertion of new knowledge.
"Muggles are people without magic, however that is only based in wizard terms. There are many different forms of magic out there Shade. Wizards channel magic through spells and wands, they foolishly think if you don't practice their way you have no magic. Other groups use other focuses for their magic. Vampires focus their magic through the blood. This is also why vampires can turn anyone into another Vampire, while a wizard cannot make someone into a wizard. Blood magic exists in all, therefore they all can become a Vampire. Do you have any other questions?" Harry thought over what she had told him before replying, of course he had more questions.
"You said that Vampires can focus the magic in the blood, how will I be able to do that?" Fiona smiled at the boy and then moved to the chair across the table where the elder had just previously sat.
"When a human becomes a vampire their body isn't the only thing that changes. A part of their mind activates as well. This portion instructs the body in how to draw magic out of consumed blood, and also how to focus the blood inside of you. It tells how you can focus blood to certain parts of your body, and burn the magic in the blood so that you can use it in it's raw form. If you will allow me I will attempt to link my mind with yours and make that change without changing your body with the vampire blood." Harry considered the Vampire, this was the first one he had meet. She had tried to protect him when the fight broke out, and she had done nothing to break his trust. It was still a tough decision to let the Vampire to make a change to him, however this magic was very interesting to Harry and he wanted to learn more.
"If I have your word you won't do anything else I will allow it." Fiona wasn't planing to give him a choice one way or another, but she decided the change may go better if he decided to accept it instead of forcing it on him.
"I give you my oath!" Harry noted that oaths were very important amongst the vampires he had meet. It was ironic how little most people thought before giving out promises, yet these vampires put so much importance on their word. It really made sense though, if one didn't have their word what did they have.
Harry nodded for Fiona to continue, he was about to ask what he needed to do when he felt her. It felt like someone was pushing at him on the inside. Like when you blow a bubble and then try to slip something into it. The bubble bends at first, but soon it allows admittance and reforms around the foreign object. In this case Harrys' mind was the bubble and Fiona was the foreign object. The harder Fiona pushed the more Harry felt like he was straining to not allow her to enter. Fiona was surprised at the level of defense the boys mind had developed. With his permission she should have no trouble puncturing into his consciousness, yet the walls of his mind would not allow her admittance. She pushed with all her considerable might before she felt a slight give and knew she was sliding into his consciousness. She briefly had time to wonder how much force her sire had to exert to make the boy sleep. It must have taken more of a effort than he let show. Once the boy learned to use blood to enhance his barriers he would be practically uncontrollable. Perhaps the elder might be able to penetrate, but she was sure she would not be able to.
Harry felt her break into his mind. It came with a feeling of nakedness, like something had been put where it didn't belong. He was also aware of another feeling welling up inside of him. At first he assumed Fiona was making the change, then he began to remember feeling like this before. It was the same feeling as when the void had gained control of him before. He was aware that the empty void inside him was again beginning to stir at the intrusion.
Fiona sifted through Harrys' mind, searching for the subconscious command that would allow the boy to control the blood and sift power from it. All was normal at first, but she soon became aware that it felt like something was watching her. She pushed the feeling aside in favor of continuing her search inside the boy. She was soon rewarded when she found what she had been searching for. Now she had to examine her own mind, and imprint her own action patterns upon his. As she focused upon the task at happened she lost awareness of the surrounding darkness that was reaching out to her.
She had just finished when it came from nowhere. It felt like thousands of hands had grabbed her and were dragging her to God knows where. Indeterminate shapes wrapped around her extended subconscious and threatened to rip her mind away into oblivion. She focused her own blood magic upon her mental powers and strained to pull free from the boys mind. Yet his mind just formed new anchors to drag her deeper into him. She knew she didn't have much time, something was protecting the boys mind. When she entered it reacted to her presence. Something had determined her intrusion as a threat and sought to end her existence. Since it wasn't a physical assault, it choose to drag her into itself and devour her mind.
Harry was aware of the new struggle, he could feel Fiona trying to pull free. He could feel her strengthen, yet get nowhere in her attempt to withdraw from his mind. He tried to put the new feelings that washed through his body to the side so that he could attempt to calm the void once more. The sensation of feeling the blood flowing through his heart and veins was amazing, yet he had to focus. He felt the power of the blood welling inside him, like a fountain it washed through his very being. Harry closed his eyes and called for order once more. Pain washed through him as he fought to quell his own natural defenses. Yet the knowledge he gained from the darkness told him that if he didn't help she would be lost forever within him. He slowly pried the shadows away from her and she quickly withdrew from his mind and back into her own conscious. Yet still Harrys' defenses refused to let go. It followed Fiona into her own mind and attempted to drag her back into his. After briefly considering whether he should, he followed the darkness into her mind.
It was like a new level of consciousness, like he was himself and her at the same time. He knew he could change her to his liking, but he also knew just how wrong that would be. Harry didn't have time to contemplate this because the darkness was now rapidly spreading throughout her mind. Threatening to drive her insane inside herself. Harry focused with all his control and called to the shadows to come back to him. Slowly they receded from her. He had time to see how organized her thoughts were. Everything had a purpose and nothing was jumbled. She was so controlled and concentrated that Harry envied her. Before Harry withdrew completely he felt a part of her touch his mind. He felt thankfulness flowing from her mind into him. Harry withdrew as best he could and he felt her close the link.
The pain of fighting filled both Harry and Fiona, they knew just how close it had been to the end for her and neither seemed willing to speak. Harry was overcome by the situation, he was mentally exhausted from the exertion. Yet he could now allow himself to focus on the new feelings that flitted throughout his body. It was a feeling that he could only equate with being truly alive. Like his whole being pulsed with life and magic that he never knew was there. In seconds he forgot how he could ever have lived without this feeling. Blood moved in him like water through a hose, he could feel his heart pushing it throughout his body. He could control how his heart beat, speeding his pulse till he felt alive with unused energy. He could slow it down till it barely beat. Fiona looked up from the spot on the table where she had been concentrating to regain control of herself.
"Be careful Shade, if you slow your heart down enough it may never start again." Harry allowed his heart to return to a normal pace and immersed himself in the feel of the movement within himself. He could form no words to describe the ecstasy that pulsed inside him.
Fiona contemplated how close she came to losing herself in his mind. She said a silent prayer for any who were foolish enough to try to brake into his mind and control him. If it weren't for the boy's efforts she would have gone insane. Now she had to refocus herself and teach the boy the basics of the gift she had given to him.
"Now Shade, we must go over a few things before we progress down this path. First, I must urge you to exercise caution in how you proceed. This gift was never meant for those who live. Blood is constantly circulating in you and to alter it to severely may result in your death. Second, though your blood does regenerate new magic, you are by no means a fountain of the magic. If you deplete the magic in the blood you could find yourself lacking it when you need it. That is also why I might suggest you contemplate drinking blood here and there. Though it's not necessary, it will be beneficial in helping to rebuild the magic stores in you when you use it. We won't press that unless you feel willing to do so later. For now you should rest. Your body has just truly awakened to itself and you need to settle to it's feel before I teach you to break the blood down for it's base magic." Harry smiled at her and then leaned back into his chair. He closed his eyes and continued to bask in the warm feeling that had swept over him. He felt like his skin had come alive and was tingling with something he couldn't aptly describe.
The magic was there, moving beneath the surface. It ran through him, waiting to be harnessed and used. Harry let himself slip into this feeling of new life. He closed his eyes in the chair and fell into a slumber that was enriched by the by warm feeling that rattled within him.
Fiona watched him drift off. She had to feed now, it had taken more out of her than she had thought to change the boy. She silently told the boy to rest well, because in a few hours she would push him to limits he didn't know he had.
******
A/N: Hope you all liked the chapter! Wasn't as much action in this chapter, but wait till you see what happens next time! It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.
dog-boy: Thanks a lot and I'm glad you like the fic. Yeah I know I got a few spelling mistakes here and there and I plan to be removing them quite soon. I just wanted to get to chapter five first. I have been looking for a beta, and I'm still not really set on one yet. I'm new to this writing fan fic stuff. I'll consider you for it though.
Tom: Thanks and I appreciate your comment. I don't think Harry really knew what he was getting himself into in the last chapter. Going with one vampire is a bit different than walking around with hundreds. Harry will be a little bit tentative in the future despite the fact that he has the elders oath. Trust is a issue we'll be getting into in the future, especially with Fiona. Obtenebration? Really, I don't believe I've ever heard that word before. I'm going to have to check to see if it's a real word. I am excited to add a new word to my vocabulary.
Otaku Freak: Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you like the fic.
BlackDragon: Thank you for the compliment, I hope you like this chapter as much as you liked the last!
PR LUCKEN: I'm glad you liked it, Thanks for the review. It's always appreciated.
Fireangle: I'm glad you like my writing style, I appreciate the review.
BloodRedSword: Thanks for reading my fic, and I thank you for reviewing!
Cr1MsOn^D3v1L: Thanks, I'll keep the updates coming!
ZeonReborn: I'm glad my fic is worth reading! The future for Harry is a open book, he will make it to Hogwarts when he is eleven. But there are things that will lead him in that direction later. Remember Harry is on a quest to find out who he is, and where he belongs. This will eventually lead him to the wizards, right now he doesn't even know he is one. Harry will have pairings, but right now he is a bit young for that kinda stuff. Plus I'm not sure if the living and dead copulate? Interesting concept though. Interesting questions by the way. Here is what I have been able to figure out so far.
Some fics make it that they do age very slow, usually because they don't want to leave Harry as a scrawny whelp for all eternity. Others, Vampires are considered to be immortal and never age. I've even read some where they never age, but can allow themselves to age if they want to. I believe that they maintain appearance after the embrace. Kinda like in Interview with the Vampire and that little girl. I use the term elder to define the patriarch of the clan. He who is the longest living, and therefore has leadership of the clan. As one ages so does there powers become more potent. We'll see this in more detail in the next chapter! Harry a vampire, that limits his future to much for my liking. Plus I'm not sure how he'd react to the disease in him. We'll have to see.
Medic: I'm glad you like the story. Thank you for taking the time to review it.
Ariel: I'm glad you like it. In my opinion no one can live in a house like the Dursley's and not walk away with some serious problems with there sense of self and write and wrong. One can only be told they are worthless so many time before it leaves a print on them. This is as true as the fact that kids tend to gain there sense of what the world is like through there parents. Harry had the Dursley's and therefore his picture is warped. He is now having to define the lines for himself and that will be a struggle in itself.
Pheonix Flight: Thanks for the review, I appreciate your comments!