Chapter 11

Dinner was a quiet affair, as Nick had invited me to his dining room, which was more like a hall. The table was long and probably used for parties, instead of what it was being used for now. Nick sat at the head, with myself to the left, to the right was a young man, who I could tell was a B rank. Nick had introduced him earlier as a neighbor who had been invited for dinner. An array if eatable dishes of human food sat in front of us as well as a goblet of blood or each. The young man, who must have just been turned seemed uninterested in the food, which spoke of his recent turning and went straight for the blood. Nick lounged in his chair asking the young vampire a few questions about his family, and recent events in the area. I sat there stiffly, the Purebloods power like a constant companion.

For reasons I don't understand, I shied away from the blood. Already my stomach was full from earlier today and the thought of more made my stomach turn. I could smell it in the air and the faint pheremones of both vampires in front of me and at least five standing in the corners of the room and serving us. Nick sits up and one of the A rank servants steps forward as Nick requests some of the roast beef and potatoes. The servant does so and I ask for some myself. I could feel Nick staring as I forked up some of the meat and put it in my mouth.

That's when he finally speaks to me, 'How interesting.'

I look up at him, as I chew the meat and he says to the young man, 'Andy, how would you rank Nina?'

My eyes turn to the other vampire. I could see the sheen of sweat on him and knew he was feeling the effects of the Dracul Pureblood as he says, 'Easily a C rank, she doesn't have the aura of a B rank like me, or the sheer power of an A rank, I sense a very faint bloodsong, but even that is vague.'

'Thank you, I felt the same.'

I realized that, Andy, was what most vampire call a seeker. During this whole time he must have been studying me. With that Nick thanks him and he is dismissed, having finished his blood. Probably the price of a Seeker. Seekers were considered like holy men of the vampire realm, able to divide and bring together a truly blood thirsty lot. He was probably older than a majority in the room. Probably the reason he had drunk his blood so fast was to get away from one of the clans royalty. He stands, gives me another once over, and leaves.

Nick didn't seem particularly interested in showing him out like a good host. But instead turns to me. I hated being the object of discussion when in the same room. However I knew the ways of the phantom. It wasn't long before your secrets are exposed. He says slowly, 'I find it interesting that a C rank vampire, with so little ability could be strong enough to resist my mind. You give off little, if any, pheremones, which is uncommon even among a Pureblood. I don't mean any harm in bringing the Seeker here, but I don't enjoy resorting to torture as it seems you have endured enough.'

I felt a sense of relief in remembering what had happened to me just hours previously. He continues, 'So tell me more about yourself Nina Simmons. It may help me understand why my hated enemy is so interested in a C rank vampire, who is clanless, able to eat human food without gaging, and being powerless.'

If only he knew. It surprised me that the Seeker hadn't been able to sense my power. I could easily class my abilities alongside an A rank. I could fly, shape-shift, bend wind to my will, and even revitalize flowers, a rather useless ability in my opinion. Most C and B rank vampires could only shape-shift and glamour people to their will, maybe glean a memory here in there. So it left me wondering, if a Seeker couldn't sense what I was, who could? Etienne had said I had no bloodsong, but this Seeker said it was faint? Could it be there was something different about be in comparison to other Vampire?

I take another bite of the roast beef as I say, 'There isn't much to tell.'

'You are an older vampire. So many young vampire rarely make it past their first few years after being bitten, why are you different?'

His line of thinking was good, making me look up at him, feeling his oppressive aura push down on me a bit. I murmur softly, 'I don't know why I survived, maybe it had to do with my teacher during those years.'

I decided not to hold back this little bit of myself, knowing I can omit some, but give this Pureblood at least something, a small recession, 'His name was Furlow Marta.'

'Was he the one that bite you?'

I shake my head and I say softly, 'No.'

Remembering back to the first year and the sheer hunger and fear. Furlow had been a simple begger, but proved to be the best of friends, saving me from possible starvation or the 'Night Hunters'. His voice came to me in a flash, gruff and sandpapery, 'So you are fresh turned kid, you have a long way to go if you want to make it among us.'

My clothes had been besodden and my hair a mess of tangles, having escaped my house. My first human I had killed, my second was close to death due to my hunger. Furlow had laughed when I told him I was a Lady. He had patted the bench he had been laying on a said, 'Ain't that always the case! Those vampire men know no bounds and want all the beauties. This silky necks of yours must be mighty tasty.'

I had been shocked by that and said, 'But I was never...'

Blinking the memory away with pain, I feel tears behind my eyes and say softly, 'He was a kind phantom that helped me through the worst of it. He was a rough older man, but kind none the less.'

'Does he still live?'

I simply shake my head. Another memory screaming to mind of him yelling at me to run, leave behind my land, and live while blocking a shadowy figure having followed me back to my home where Furlow lived among the warehoused ships. I had seen his death, remembered screaming, and feeling something in me snap. Part of my humanity disappearing as I ran for the departing ship and flying for the first time.

I take another bite of roast beef, feeling myself cage and cherish what remained of my humanity. That's when I see Nick's fork stop before his mouth and his eyes Lazer into me. He says as he slowly puts his fork down, 'How is it possible?'

Suddenly fear douses my system and I stare at him with wide eyes. I had let down my guard, my mind full of old memories and now my insides burned with the need to run as he said, 'How are you able to...'

But his question never came as a blinding white light flashed through the room, the large French doors along the east wall shattering.