The rune-bound book was interesting. When I tried to add the spellform to its body, the runes around it dulled and moved away. Whoever made this book was a genius.

I used my blood to draw the spellform on the book's body. From the front cover, across the spine, and to the back cover. Once the runes were added, I dropped the brush into the ink and slit my palm.

Blood flowed out, but I stopped the rest, letting only a drop splash on the spine where the binding rune was. I latched onto my life force and sent it into the drop of blood before it even splashed, so now it was time for chanting.

"By the blood of my essence, I bind this item to me,

Through my lifeforce, let its power flow free.

When I call upon it, let it come to my hand,

When I summon thee, by blood shall it rise.

Guard thy spellbook, my life force allow only,

As I command, shall it be, till the blood in my veins run no more,

And the spark of my life shine none."

My blood glowed, both the drop and the spellform. From the disc, to the bands, and to the runes. It pulsed a dark red as I believed the life force within it activated.

I felt a latch on myself, in my chest. Searching, I found it. A thick and inconspicuous chain going from the book to my chest. If I didn't look for it, I wouldn't have seen it.

"Test one." I raised my hand and formed my fingers like I was trying to grip something but without closing them. I shut my eyes. Come to me.

I felt it slam into my palm with a soft thunk. "Ha. Hahaha. It worked. Of course, it worked. The Collective already congratulated me for it." I shook my head.

Turning it, I opened the cover. I felt the probe it cast on me. Swift and silent. I only felt it course because I could feel life force. Something told me that even others with life force manipulation would fail to sense it.

I used the spellform on the Dragonhide Spellbook too and felt the connection as well.

"I do wonder. Did the spell become legendary because I wrote it in you first?"

There was no answer, so I let it be. Opening it, I drew the spellform for my blood spike. I hoped by making it better and showing the complete spellform, the spell would get improved.

As I worked on it, I thought of it as a trap, also as a ranged spell. "How would I make it work both ways?" The answer was simple: in the runes and incantations. I tapped my jaw.

Using my laptop, I scrunched up all the words and the runes for how to make the Blood Spike work both ways.

I wanted the spellform for Blood Spike to take various things into consideration.

First is the size of the blood spike. Little, big, large. Second is the number. 1, 2, and on until just using the word "a lot" or "many" is best.

Finally, the effect.

Will it just impale? Will it impale and boil the victim's blood? Will it impale and curse the victim?

Will it impale and create an unhealable wound, or drain life force in small amounts to me? That could still be a curse, actually. A good status effect. That was the idea.

I found just mashing up runes didn't work well. "So, a spellform with varieties." I created the various spellforms with different differences. Sometimes I added the differences up or changed effects between spike sizes or numbers.

Soon, I had a whole bunch of the possible combinations.

I looked at the time first. [05:20]

Kayla wasn't set to wake till six. I'd take her to school by 8 and then return. Mrs. Bertha would pick her up from school and bring her back. That gives me a whole day before I have to decide whether I want to make my daughter a vampire or not. Then ask her if she wants to be like mummy. Then tomorrow, I'll have to get Mrs. Bertha on board. I can't be hiding around her while doing all this.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"I got four months. I'm not nearing any of those locked spaces until I have enough offensive spells. No offense, Collective."

I focused back on drawing the spellforms on the second page of my Spellbook. I had to make them as small as I could, or just big. Unfortunately, it took two moves before the varieties ended.

[Blood Magic - Spell: Blood Spike (Rare)]

Create and launch one or multiple spikes of blood at an enemy, with effects that vary based on size, number, and additional properties. Each spike can inflict unique status effects upon impact.

Cost: 5 Life Force per spike

Cast Type: Incantation, Intent, and Runic

Reward: 5 Gold

[Spell Details]

1. Size Options:

Small: A narrow spike that can be easily hidden; less damage but quick to cast.

Medium: A standard-sized spike, effective for straightforward attacks.

Large: A thick, powerful spike that causes significant damage and has a higher chance of catalyzing additional effects.

2. Quantity Options:

Single Spike: One spike targeted at an enemy.

Multiple Spikes: Launch up to 3 spikes; each additional spike incurs an extra cost of 5 Life Force.

Many Spikes: Create a barrage of spikes (e.g., "a flurry of spikes") for a larger area of effect, at a high cost of 15 Life Force for a massive assault.

3. Effect Options:

Impale: The spike penetrates the target, dealing immediate x2 or x3 damage based on the caster's Mental Force and size option.

Boil Blood: Upon impact, the spike causes the victim's blood to heat up, inflicting ongoing damage over time.

Curse: Inflicts a curse on the victim, causing weakened defenses or status ailments (e.g., impaired movement, stats block).

Unhealable Wound: The spike creates a wound that cannot be healed through regular means, requiring specific magical healing.

Life Drain: The spike drains a small amount of life force from the victim with each heartbeat, restoring a portion to the caster.

[Spellform Variations]

1. Blood Spike (Large, Single, Impale):

Effect: A small spike that quickly impales the target.

Cost: 5 Life Force

2. Blood Spike (Small, Multiple, Boil Blood):

Effect: Multiple spikes that impale the target and boil their blood, causing ongoing damage.

Cost: 15 Life Force (Three dozen spikes at 5 Life Force/dozen)

3. Blood Spike (Medium, Many, Unhealable):

Effect: A flurry of medium spikes that impale the target and create unhealable wounds.

Cost: 10 Life Force (Two dozen at 5 Life Force/dozen)

4. Blood Spike (Large, Single, Life Drain):

Effect: A large spike that impales the target and drains their life force, replenishing the caster.

Cost: 5 Life Force (For the shot).

There were more variations mixing up the effects and sizes, but man, did I like this spell. The increase to Rare also told me that yes, the book must be helping, and maybe the additional variations.

"Now. I need a spellform that will keep my baby safe. All these spells need cutting palms and blood around to activate and use or draw." She could use intent, but I just knew that unlike me, others would have a harder time using intent for these spellforms.

I checked on the varied incantations and shivered at the thought of those without the memory book having to memorize how to say the same spell in different words for different effects.

With intent, I could simply will it. With the spellforms, I could lay traps or have multiple spells...

Woah. I need to check that. "Can I have multiple spells active at the same time?"

I grew my claws on both hands and stabbed my palms. I ignored the pain; in fact, I believe I was getting numb to it. Blood dripped, and I caught it with life force manipulation.

Moment of truth.

I began forming the circles and then branding the runes. It was slow. I had to turn my attention to each one each time.

"Figures, but I need to know if I can activate both."

I finalized the spellforms and... "This is crap." I had to draw more blood and let it flow into the activation rune at the center disc. Once there, I had to activate the runes. I can't say two incantations at once.

I need a new way to activate the spellforms. "Intent." The spellforms already had everything. Incantations were like a 2FA authorization. What do you do when you have root access, AKA intent?

I pressed my will on the left spellform activation rune while my mouth moved and spat the incantation for the right spellform.

"By blood and intent, a single thorn takes form, pierce and end."

The blood I gave them became the projectile. I saw the process of life force flowing through the spellform and then, like a slingshot, rushing back and propelling the spikes.

I winced as I watched my wall take damage. Quickly, I manipulated the blood to return to me and, cutting my hand, let them slide right back in.

"Okay. Intent is the master access. Incantations... can I use incantations without the spellform?"

I drew more blood, and with it floating there, I made the incantation again while restraining my intent. Nothing happened. I used my intent in a second try.

"On its own, it does nothing. With intent and spellforms, it works. Intent works on its own already, so basically it's just useful for spellforms." I knew why, though.

The spellform was basically my intent given shapes. So when I said an incantation, the life force had a programming to activate. Without it or intent, the life force didn't have anything to activate.

Incantations were just passwords. Without the padlock, you couldn't use it.

[6:00]

I stood up and made sure to arrange everything. The blood ink had already dried with each writing, so I shut the book. I did the same for the Book of Runes and then set the brush back into the ink.

My mind was filled with ideas for the spellforms and how to use spellforms for traps as I leaned over my little girl. My plans suddenly changed to her.

What would I do if she refused to become like me? I began thinking of how to create things for her. Vampire Genesis worked to make vampires. But can't I use blood to form creatures?

I focused back on Kayla. "Hello, pumpkin. Time to wake up." I shook her softly, then pulled off the blanket and carried her up.

Holding her, I began taking her clothes off. "Mummy. Morning."

"Good morning to you too, angel. Tell me about your dreams." I carried her naked self into the bathroom and set her into the mini tub she'd wanted.

Movies, right?

"Mama?"

"Hmm, angel." I switched on the cold faucet and guided it into the tub away from her feet. Then I guided the hot one to point into the water before I twisted it on as well.

"Are you sick?"

I stopped in place, hand on the body wash, to look at her. "No. Why?"

"You look white." I froze at the answer then turned to look at the bathroom mirror. How I had not looked into a mirror since the previous night's events shocked me. Well, at least I wasn't narcissistic.

I was indeed pale. Very pale. My eyes were slowly getting a red tint, but it stopped at rust red. My black hair looked glossier and shinier. I was pale. Very pale. Even Chinese girls don't get this pale in those videos.

I sighed and shook my head. I caught sight of the fresh palms I had. Not a sign of all the cutting I did for blood. "Yes, baby girl. Mama did something. That's why. It's something I wanted to ask you, but I'll do so when you're back from school. Okay?"

Her large, adorable eyes widened in confusion, and I just nodded at her. Adding the body wash to the water, the scent of strawberries filled the bathroom.

"Time to soak. Woohoo!!" Lifting her up, I brought her down into the tub and splashed her a bit. She laughed, the sleep gone from her eyes.

I made to start washing her when she pushed me. "Mommy, go. I can do it." I gasped in mock shock.

"But... but... okay, fine. But you better scrub well." She nodded in understanding. Rising, I handed her the sponge and went out of the bathroom. Clothes hunting for something cute, I frowned at her clothes. They were not old, but she'd worn them all.

Taking the clothes she'd worn least, I put out a pink and black combination of a top and skirt. Set a nice black baby sandals and then got out her school bag.

Ah. School. I wonder how long she'll go for.