Omnium Rerum Principia Parva Sunt
Satisfied after the hunt, I arrived at the bunker with the dagger still in my hand.
"Did you see anything interesting?" Dr. Petrov asked.
"I think I may have sensed the trail of a vampire, not far from here... For a moment..." I paused. "I could smell the essence of my converter, I believe," I told him.
"Hmm... if there are vampires nearby, we should proceed with caution. We don't want any vampire revealing your identity. Remember, the only one who knows about you is the vampire who turned you," he replied, a little concerned.
"She doesn't know about my ability, well, not exactly what it is or how it works. She just knows I can do something; for some reason, she suspects or desires it."
"See, that could be a great advantage," Dr. Petrov added. "If you start hunting your own kind and manage not to leave any traces, others will find it difficult to figure out what happened or who's behind it. The more stealthy you are, the better."
"But my converter is my weak point," I replied, and then added, "If she mentions something to a vampire, or the Volturi find out through her, they could come after me."
Dr. Petrov fell into deep thought for a while.
"Well, Doc, I have the element of surprise on my side, and with the arsenal we'll have, I'll endure as much as I can. One way or another, I'll have to reach that point."
"Good observation, Gonzalo. We'll see how far you get, but I have a couple of ideas to share. That way, we can create some more things so you have everything you need for your mission."
I followed Dr. Petrov to the main laboratory, where we had all our resources. He extracted a special reddish liquid.
"Smell it, but just a little, because it's very strong. Don't you dare drink it, you know it took me a lot of effort to make it."
I lightly breathed in the liquid and immediately felt a tingling and a sensation of pain in my throat. It was that feeling of thirst; I had just fed, but inhaling the gas from the liquid made me feel as if I hadn't drunk in several days.
"Doc, what is this?! I feel the thirst again, the pain in my throat, and I just fed!"
"Haha! I took one of the most potent blood samples I had and, using reverse engineering, managed to invert its effects into an entirely new substance. If the scent used to attract you, with this version, the gas triggers thirst, especially when you drink it. Instead of quenching it, the thirst will intensify. That's why I warned you not to drink it; otherwise, the pain would be unbearable, and you'd pounce on me."
"I think I have a couple of ideas with this liquid. Can we turn it into a gas?" I asked, smiling.
That's precisely what I was thinking when I discovered it, but I imagine that's up to your area of expertise," he smiled.
"A gas bomb! I have a few good ideas, and with this, I'll hardly need pepper spray anymore. This is so much better!"
"Excellent, and look here..."
Dr. Petrov took out two exact replicas of my arm from a capsule.
"The components are exactly the same. I used the data we had, and together with the printer and AI, we can run tests with your dagger and the sword to find out exactly what the sword can do. However, you'll have to decide which weapon to use the Prometium battery on, as we can't replicate it here."
"Of course, I'll use it on the sword! If it works," I replied excitedly.
Dr. Petrov had divided the tests into several stages. The first would be to see how both weapons performed without using heat on the blade, and finally, carry out the final tests using heat.
We started the tests with the dagger. This time, we had a camera recording the process, comparing it, and using integrated software with artificial intelligence to analyze the differences and see what improvements could be made.
In the laboratory, I observed with curiosity the two weapons we had created: the dagger, made with the vampire fang, and the new saber, crafted from the werewolf fang. Both weapons were products of the combination of biological and technological elements, but they differed in design and the properties we hoped to discover.
The study machine carefully held the dagger and the saber, while I closely examined the synthetic copy of my vampire arm. It was time to analyze the similarities and differences between these weapons.
The dagger, with its sharp blade and Prometium handle, had proven to be formidable in its cutting and burning capacity. The blade, made with the combination of the vampire fang and Cubic Boron Nitride, possessed exceptional hardness and unparalleled thermal conductivity. However, I wondered what the new saber would bring to our arsenal.
The machine carefully positioned the saber over the vampire arm sample. As I studied the werewolf fang, I noticed its structure was different from that of the vampire fang. It seemed denser and sturdier, with a natural curvature that suggested an ideal shape for a cutting weapon.
The saber, in contrast to the dagger, presented a longer and curved blade, designed for more effective cutting. The combination of organic materials from the werewolf fang with Cubic Boron Nitride provided the saber with a unique blend of hardness and heat conduction, similar to the dagger.
The machine initiated the analysis, and I could observe how the saber sank into the vampire arm sample with surprising fluidity. The blade cut effortlessly, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. It was evident that the saber had a more effective cutting capacity due to its curved design and greater length. Moreover, the dense structure of the werewolf fang offered additional resistance.
As the saber advanced, I could appreciate how the blade perfectly adapted to the shape of the vampire arm. It was as if it was custom-made to confront its natural enemy. The combination of biological and technological elements granted the saber a lethal effectiveness.
Compared to the dagger, the saber had a more powerful cutting capacity and greater adaptability to the target's shape. Both weapons possessed exceptional hardness and high heat conduction, making them lethal against vampires.
I concluded that while the dagger was ideal for quick and precise attacks, the saber offered a more versatile option, capable of dealing with moving enemies and adapting to different combat situations.
"Wow, Doc! Seeing the saber ignite is a beauty," I said excitedly.
"Of course, I thought the werewolf fang would give it more flexibility without compromising its hardness," he replied.
In addition to the weapons, the Doctor and I also created tasers and a glove that delivered an electric shock upon contact, allowing me to immobilize vampires.
"Doc, with this, I can already go out to hunt the vampire who might have information about Anastasia."
"Anastasia? Is that the name of the vampire who killed your family?" Dr. Petrov asked.
"Yes, Doc. I must interrogate that vampire, taking advantage of her being close."
"Wow, wow, wow, young man. You haven't completed your resistance training against human blood. I think it's best if you wait; we need to be sure that you'll respond effectively to humans. Do you have the communicator with you?"
"Yes, Doc, I always have it with me..."
"Good," replied Dr. Petrov. "Look, I'm setting up another transmitter. You could help me here, as I'd like to contact my daughter securely, and I need someone to encrypt and improve the data."
"Yes, Doc, I have a couple of ideas that could be used to establish communication. I promised her we would talk more securely."
"Okay, kid, go to the lab and continue with your training. It's late, and I'm going to take a nap."
Once again, I entered the laboratory. I hated that place, but I knew it was the only way to confront the worst vampire that existed, my greatest enemy, myself.
Dr. Petrov had designed a mask that isolated the gases, allowing me to expose myself to the essence of human blood and adapt more efficiently. The mask isolated all other scents, enabling me to be exposed solely to that particular fragrance. That aroma triggered madness in me, making me confront my own vampiric side. It was like being starving and being offered my favorite dish, I could only smell it and see it, but I couldn't eat it. I had to resist; there were no other scents, only my main course.
As the sun slowly disappeared, I thought more and more about that vampire, about Anastasia's essence, and about all the arsenal at my disposal. I was very close, just a few kilometers away from discovering something, finding more clues. I couldn't think of anything other than her. My anger fed more and more on that thought.
In the middle of the night, I removed the mask and took the sample once again. I was determined to investigate further; I couldn't let this opportunity pass. I grabbed the tasers, gas bombs, the saber that now had the Promethium battery, and the dagger.
As I ran swiftly, recalling satellite images and triangulating positions, I began to smell that scent once again, the scent of that vampire intertwined with the faint aroma of Anastasia. Step by step, the scent grew stronger. I was almost entering what seemed to be a campsite when I heard the radio signal.
"Hello... hello... Gonzalo... Over and out," Dr. Petrov's voice said amidst interference sounds.
"Hello, Doc, I'm busy. I'm tracking the place; I think I'm about to find the vampire. Now I can test the weapons in a real scenario!" I replied.
"Gonzalo, don't wander too far, please. The signal is weakening, and we won't be able to maintain communication."
"Don't worry, Doc. I'll be back soon. Over and out."
The essence was almost there. I ran several more kilometers and reached the place of the smell. It was a nearby campsite where a man was fishing. The vampire was already there, ready to attack, running towards the man. I managed to intercept him and threw a smoke grenade. I put on the mask and pushed him in the opposite direction.
He kicked me, sending me several meters away, but I managed to land on my feet on a rock.
"No one steals my food. I saw him first. Go hunt somewhere else, or else..."
Before he could finish the sentence, I threw one of the tasers, and he caught it with his hand, laughing. He started convulsing, and I left him on his knees. At that moment, I heard Dr. Petrov's signal again.
"Gon... *interference sounds... Gonz... Can you hear me? *more interference sounds... Al... over...".
"Doc? Doc? Hello? Over and out."
"G... Here..." I could only hear interference sounds.
"Ah, Doc, I don't have time now." I turned off the transmitter and decided to turn it back on later when I was done with this. The vampire tried to escape, and I activated the taser again.
"Ah..." he exclaimed, falling to the ground once more.
"Where is Anastasia? Tell me what you know about her!"
"I don't know. What do you want from me? Who are you talking about?"
I activated the taser again, and he fell and convulsed once more.
"I won't repeat it again. I can smell her essence on you. You were with her. Come on! Tell me what you know about Anastasia!"
He looked into my eyes. "Look, I've been with many girls; I can't tell you anything if you don't give me something more specific."
"Blonde girl, medium-length straight hair, short stature, a vampire with red eyes," I said.
"Okay, okay. The blonde one. Ugh, man, you have great taste. One of those comes along once in a lifetime..." I activated the taser again. "Ahhh... no... ahhh."
"I'm not her boyfriend, just tell me where she is, get to the point, idiot," I exclaimed.
"Okay, okay, okay... Let's calm down... We were together for a while. I was wondering how strong she was, and little by little, she stopped hunting with me, I guess she got bored of me," he said.
"You still haven't told me where she went", I replied.
"Look, after being with me, Anastasia stopped hunting humans and told me it was best to end our relationship. She was scared and paranoid. She probably went to look for someone else, heading east, maybe somewhere in China or further south. Look, I kept this from her." He gave me a small lock of her hair tied to a ribbon.
"Further east," I thought as I looked at the lock of hair. "Hmm... Okay, thanks."
"You're welcome, man. Now I understand why she was so paranoid... Let's make a deal, how about we split..." Before he could finish speaking, I ignited the saber's blade and finished him off with a slash. Combustion started immediately. The saber was much more effective than the dagger; Dr. Petrov was right, the saber was much more versatile and efficient in cutting. Now I had to return to the lab to see what Dr. Petrov wanted.
"Doc, can you hear me? I've got the information I needed! Over and out."
There was no response. Perhaps he had gone to sleep, but I was starting to worry. After a couple of hours, I tried again.
"Doc, Doc! I'm almost there... Doc! Hello? Over and out."
As I approached the laboratory, I began to smell a peculiar and unfamiliar scent. Someone else had been near the lab. I began to suspect the worst.
Right at the entrance, I saw a woman who didn't really look like a vampire. She had an external hard drive with her. She tried to escape, but I threw a smoke grenade.
She quickly moved to the side and threw a large piece of metal at me. I managed to activate the saber and cut the metal before it hit me.
"Where is Dr. Petrov?" I asked seriously.
"Resting in peace, my father sends his regards."
The girl looked at me with her brown eyes, definitely not human, she seemed to share certain aspects of vampires, but not entirely. Her movements were less refined than a vampire's but equally deadly. She didn't have the typical paleness of a vampire, so I immediately assumed, upon noticing that the smoke grenades didn't affect her in the same way as a vampire, that she was definitely a hybrid.
"How did you find us?" I asked her.
"Your scent. I noticed strange activity around this abandoned place. My father sent me to find Mr. Petrov since he never heard from him after last year's attack. He thought Petrov was dead. I offered to check the place, and I was waiting. After detecting you lurking around here, I thought maybe Petrov wasn't entirely dead. You have no idea how far we traveled to find him; his information will be valuable for my father's investigations."
One of Joham's daughters was here, and I, immersed in my search for Anastasia, didn't see it. I can't let her take all this data.
I leaped toward her and picked up several rocks to throw at her. I brandished my saber and started delivering blows, managing to dodge the objects she threw. A few hit their mark, and I managed to wound her. She kicked me, and we moved away; it was at that moment that I realized she could heal her wounds easily.
She started running again, and I chased her, throwing several of my tasers and gas bombs at her. None hit the mark. We jumped between hills and mountains; I couldn't let her go. Finally, one of my other stun bombs hit its mark. We fell down a precipice, and I threw the dagger at her.
It hit her shoulder, and she threw it back at me. I managed to deflect it with the saber. The dagger was bloodied. The fight became more complicated when the space became limited. Unable to use my sword, we engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Between blows, I realized I was stronger than her. I managed to subdue her and activate my electric glove. I paralyzed her with hits in key areas and managed to place a taser on her head. Finally, I activated the taser.
"Ahhh..."
"I've got you now... I want you to tell me who you are and what your father wanted," I exclaimed.
"I won't tell you anything, go to hell, idiot."
She spat in my face and activated the taser again. She started convulsing. While cuts and burns from the sword and, above all, gas bombs didn't affect hybrids, surely the taser and the electric glove could do something.
"Who are you? How many more like you are there? What does Joham want?" I shouted.
"Go to hell, jerk," she replied.
A whole day passed, and little by little, the taser was running out of battery. This girl was fierce; there was no way to make her talk. She seemed determined to die for her father. I took the external USB drive from her.
"You know, I'm not interested in you or your sisters. If you tell me what your father wants with all this, I swear I'll leave your sister alone," I explained.
"If you touch my sisters, I swear that..." she exclaimed.
"Sisters... Good, we're making progress."
"No... You bastard." She began to cry.
I thought that surely Dr. Petrov has more information about this woman's peculiar family. If this man, Joham, is so interested in our technology, I can't even imagine what he plans to do. All the weapons, prototypes, information, machinery.
I applied another taser.
"Look, we can be here for days, weeks, even months. I can endure my thirst long enough to make you talk. Can you?"
Days and days passed. After more than a week there, both sitting under the cliff, we started feeling thirsty. I had a few more tasers, but they were slowly running out. Anyway, I could admire her courage. I had been electrocuting her there for weeks on end, it even started to hurt me, and yet, with it all, I couldn't get her to say anything. Suddenly, she looked me in the eyes and said:
"My father wants Petrov's technology and knowledge. With what you guys have done, my father could create something marvelous, unique, that would stand out from vampires and humans. He's always said that we are special, that we are the future, better, superior to humans."
"And your mother? Don't you feel anything for your mother?" I replied.
"Yes, she gave her life for me, for my father. She loved us so much that she sacrificed herself so I could live, so I could be here, with my sisters."
"You do understand that, in reality, your mother was used by your father. Vampires don't care about human life. Why would your father condemn your mother's life?" I replied.
"He loved her!" she answered furiously. "Who are you to talk about my family? Watch your mouth before talking about my father. Once I get out of here, I'll kill you just like that scientist."
"Did you feed on him?" I asked her.
"Like all vampires! It's part of what we are. I know what I am, and I'm proud of it."
Hearing those words, with that distinctive tone, words I had already heard too many times, I realized that it's no longer about being a vampire, human, or hybrid, but about the choices we make. She was determined, and I couldn't change that.
"Your mother was human. You are part human. You feed on your own kind. You're a cannibal."
"And you hunt vampires. Your own kind. You're a serial killer. What's the difference? You can never deny what you are," she replied.
"Last words for your family before I pay them a visit," I said.
She looked at me with tearful eyes and sobbed. "You won't find them."
"I will find them sooner or later. I don't have time for games, so... Will you give me information, or will you say goodbye to them?" I responded.
"Tell them that Maysun loves them," she answered.
"Well, Maysun, it's a shame we met under these circumstances. You have my respect."
I ignited the blade and finally claimed her life with the saber. This time, the combustion wasn't as intense as with a vampire, and I could smell the scent of her human part. I didn't feel good about what I did; I had mixed feelings because this girl, in my opinion, was just a victim of her father's brainwashing.