Chapter 28: Lessons For The New Blood: Powers Of The Nightkin

--- Aurelio Hermenez ---

(You want to talk about it?) He asked as gently as he could.

(No… Not at the moment… Maybe later…) Jerry told him, sounding smaller than he’d ever heard her before.

(Take your time. I’m here whenever you want.) He assured her.

Jerry was quiet for a moment before he eventually heard a whispered, (Thank you.)

Seeing as he was on his own while his personal poltergeist processed whatever she’d learned from the portrait and Alex’s little speech he instead turned his attention back to where the older trio of vampires had led him. A large room with concrete walls covered in small scratches, blue padded flooring, and a number of wooden targets, dummies, and other things stacked in a corner itself half blocked by a concrete wall of its own.

“This is one of our training rooms where anyone can work on developing their more mystical abilities, or practice any physical feats they aren’t comfortable doing in the city proper. You’re free to enter any empty room you find whenever you please here.” Alex explained to him. “Or if you’re feeling sociable, I’ve found many of our kin to be more open while physically active. Especially around the Bloody Ballroom.”

(That sounds… ominous.)

“Ah, I’d hold off on that until you’ve got a bit more blood in your veins.” Eric cut in as he walked over to a small bookcase next to the door. “Right now, you’re more likely to hurt yourself than keep up with anyone, or embarrass yourself during a Ballroom.”

Cautiously he went ahead and asked, “When you say Bloody Ballroom?”

“Think of it as a magic sport.” Catherine answered. “Technically we had to pay a Practitioner to install it since our magic is limited when it comes to a lot of Arcane stuff, but if you can find one of their hiding holes you’ll usually find an arena set up there.”

“Our magic isn’t limited.” Alex frowned. “It’s merely specialized towards Blood and Shadow magics over the more generalized practices. If you modify the spellwork accordingly you can do most of the same, if in those styles over others.”

(Did he say ‘Shadow’ magic?) Jerry asked, apparently deciding that whatever this was was enough of a distraction for her.

“And even then there’s a bit more leeway than that if you’re smart.” Eric added, apparently having found the book he was looking for. “It’s just Catherine isn’t the smartest person in the room.”

Said person gave Eric the middle finger and a, “Fuck you.” while Alex merely sighed.

(Don’t get distracted.) Geraldine told him, sounding irritated by something other than him. (Ask about the… Shadow magic.)

“Um, I get blood magic because… vampires. But shadow magic?” He voiced for the voice only he could hear.

“Ah, yes. You’ve already seen our blood magic.” Alex nodding, causing a swirl of red fluid to form in the air with a twist of his hand. “This is something that all… with the Gift of Blood be they of our Bloodline or not possess, but each Bloodline also possesses a secondary affinity passed through the Gift. Our own for instance is [Shadows].” As he said this Alex used his other hand to create a swirl of black mists similar to the crimson above his other hand.

“Now admittedly, I’m far better at Blood Magic having a… decent standing in all of its disciplines.” Eric let out a snort and mumbled something that sounded like ‘Blood Lord’ but Alex ignored him instead explaining that. “Even if Shadows are more my brother’s specialty than my own, it’s still something I have a decent enough foundation to teach you should you desire.”

Inside his mind Jerry let out a scoffing sound. (You can learn Blood Magic from him if you desire, since they’ve likely had a hundred years to refine it but if you want to learn ‘Shadow’ magic I can teach you more at home than they can. I mean my affinity wasn’t even shadows, it was Night for the Pale Lady’s sake!)

(Wait, what do you mean by Night magic?)

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“Or we can actually teach you the basics of magic in general.” Eric unknowingly interrupted as the redhead held up his book. “While we are attuned to Blood and Shadow, that doesn’t change the fact that we have our own personal pre-vampire affinities that differ between everyone. It won’t get the same power up from blood your other magic gets but it also doesn’t burn blood to use, giving you a decent tool until you build a reserve up or whenever you’re running low.”

(Ah, that one might be an offer worth considering.) Jerry admitted sounding pained to do so. (While I likely have more general Arcane knowledge than any of this lot, I lack the actual contacts and resources to help you properly develop whatever your personal talent is. And sadly you will need a proper foundation before I can teach you any of my more advanced skills… Well that and you still need to bed someone as well.)

He forced himself to not sigh at that last comment from his thirsty ghost.

“Hold up.” Catherine called looking at the other two like they were idiots. “I know magic is the ‘fun’ part of being a vampire-”

“Blood mage.” Alex cut in, earning a glare, even as Jerry added that, (Personally, I prefer the Vampire Witch you used the other night, but it’s honestly all the same thing.)

“I know magic is the ‘fun’ part of being a blood mage,” Catherine repeated in irritation before returning to her normal tone, “for you two anyway, but with the way the city is going he needs to learn how to take advantage of the changes to his body. He needs to learn how to move and use his strength to get things done, and maybe a couple of other things if we’ve got the time.”

“You… make a valid point.” Alex sighed. “Though given young Aurelio’s circumstances I’d rather his first experience as a member of our kin be a more positive experience than ‘training’ him from combat like you would.”

“I’m not going to train him for combat, kid isn’t a Hunter.” Catherine frowned, looking uncomfortable. “I’m just going to teach him how to run and hide if something goes after him, or how to throw a distraction if he really needs to. Things that’ll help him survive until things actually calm down instead of just bubbling beneath the surface.”

“Technically, everything we want to teach him will help him survive just in different ways.” Eric reminded her. “None of us want the kid to be a soldier, but that doesn’t mean we can’t slip in a few tricks in case of an emergency.”

“How about we let Aurelio decide?” Alex asked.

“Uh, what?” He blinked.

Alex gave him a wry grin. “As I said, I want your first experience to be fun but I… sadly don’t know you well enough to know what you’d consider fun.”

“Uh, shouldn’t I… like, study all of this stuff?” He pointed out as he gestured towards all of them. “I mean, isn’t this supposed to be like a vampire one oh one or something?”

“True, and in a way you will.” Alex agreed. “Unfortunately, thanks to our current circumstances we’ll each only be able to take off so much time to teach you our disciplines. Which is why we need to figure out what we prioritize teaching you.”

“Actually, why don’t we take that a step further?” Eric threw out. “Given how he’s a New Blood he’s got a lot to learn, I mean we can’t make him get his own blood after all, but if he were to stick with one of us we could help him learn and keep him out of trouble until things clear up.”

“Usually that would be the Blood Parent’s duty…” Alex frowned, before letting out a sigh. “But with the way things are, you’re right.” He turned to Aurelio with a grimace. “In fact, given how I passed along the Gift it might be good for you to have a bit of distance from me. I know you weren’t… too grievous about it the other night, but if you want to process all of this with someone else I won’t blame you. It’s your choice Aurelio.”

Catherine let out a frustrated groan as she ran a hand through her hair, before nodding as she turned to him. “Fuck it, I’ve got a lot on my plate but whatever. If you want to work with me you can but if they’re offering then I’ve got to too, but just so you know I will be putting you to work, because I do have a lot on my plate.”

Feeling a bit of pressure with all of their eyes on him, he couldn’t help but consult the vampiric ghost in his head. (Uh, Jerry… thoughts?)

(Mmm, they’re right.) Geraldine told him after a moment. (This is an opportunity for you, and splitting your attention too thinly might hinder your progress rather than aiding it. Which is why if you choose any of them to mentor you I will not be teaching you Night magic until you have fewer responsibilities. Though regardless of that, I will do my best to aid you in whatever field of study you choose to pursue as I will be on your side.)

He was honestly kind of touched by Jerry’s words, a warmth spreading in his chest at the surety that she had his back, (even if they do absolutely nothing to help me make my decision.)

(Oh, in that case Catherine is your best bet if you want to bed one of them given how she is a woman, meaning odds are in you favor that she prefers male company. And while I know your preferences are mixed, we’ve no idea if either of these men share said preferences. Though even if they did Mr. Pierce apparently views you as a son so he won’t be interested. So in order of likelihood to advance our more hedonistic goals, Ms. Freeman, Mr. Campbell, me for we can find a more suitable target, and Mr. Pierce simply will not work for you.)

And all warmth in his chest was dead as he instead buried his head in his hands, trying to pretend he was all alone and that the perverted poltergeist did not exist.