Chapter 94: Meal for another

Awakening from my coffin. “I could get used to this.” Waking without morning fog is on top of my list of good things as a vampire. No, in fact, I would say top 2. Stepping out of the comfortable wooden casket, I begin my day. Well, technically night. Gently running my hand over the red velvet cushion that I sleep upon. It’s very soft, and generally speaking, as a vampire, you don’t need comfort. Your body just becomes more dead until dusk.

I told myself yesterday I would take a break from the leveling spree. Yet, it’s too tempting. The next level requires me to present a rose to Lilith. Actually, a poppy; given roses were removed from the game.

Completing the ritual a second time was far smoother. Less worry clouding my judgment. On my first attempt, I had no clue how the summoning would go after going through Felix. This caused me to have a slight pause and nervousness about the process, Yet, having done so before, I find my body filled with boundless confidence.

Beginning the ritual, I mercilessly slaughter the chicken. My mind was unencumbered with guilt. Musing at how the mind shifts under the vampiric influence. Boundless confidence, reduced morality, arrogance, pride, a hunter's heart, and desire to remain hidden.

Definitely, something to keep in mind when changing people. Slowly pouring the blood over the skull, look at its tired face as the blood enters the eye. With a familiar shimmer, the ghostly woman appears. Curiously no voice this time. Perhaps she can see who is performing the ritual. I assume Lilith is a she from my dash of history and bible study.

Taking her to the nether was quick and easy. Although for a moment, I could have sworn she looked sad. A flicker on her otherwise neutral face.

Quickly I see a familiar black with hints of blue rift split open. Taking the opportunity at hand, I gaze into the strange dimension. The place seems to lack gravity, with floating rocks almost like space. A blue shade permeates the world like an eternal storm. The final thing I notice is a structure, blurry but clearly manmade in the background.

Not a moment later, the vixon shows herself. Black one-piece dress across her body tightly. I avert my eyes if only for the permanent blood lust she radiates. From a cold aura to now a palpable pressure, it seems my vampiric sight reveals more than I thought.

She smiles viciously before stepping into the nether, confidence in her steps. “An adult already, you must have set some kind of record.” She says with a wink.

“Maybe, I suppose you can't do it any faster, with that restriction in place.”

She smiles knowingly, “And, I suppose you are here for your next step in maturity.”

I nod while holding out the poppy. “My favorite flower, how thoughtful.” She says before cupping it in her hands. “You know, a power boost for just a flower seems; cheap.”

A shiver runs down my spine as the face twists into a grin. “You have 1 hour to bring me a meal.”

“Bu… but, okay, but you can’t kill them.”

She mulls over my words before I add, “I have a reputation I need to uphold, and bodies leave a trail.”

“2 meals then, I will leave both alive. Now go, you only have a humble hour.” As I suddenly hear the audible ticking of a clock. Quickly, I teleport to the town.

With haste, I run across the town. Looking for someone who I know is a good meal. Feeling sorry for the poor soul who I will have to grab. Soon enough, I find myself in front of a familiar house. The woman who tastes like strawberries, I came here unintentionally.

Entering the familiar wooden hallway, I walk towards the bedroom with the lone heartbeat. Quietly opening the door and entering the room. Casually glancing at the disarrayed makeup stand and cushioned stool. Cloths across the floor with the odd bit of cut cloth. A tailer by trade, or a seamstress, I cant tell.

Stepping by her side, I gently stroke her face before transfixing her. Using my full power, creating a strong winding rope around her mind. Next, I teleport her to Lilith. The demonic goddess is idly sitting on a floating chair of bones. “You do know how to make this whole situation worse, don’t you?”

She just smiles before sitting up. The chair disappears into particles of white, falling to the ground. She suddenly appears before the women held in a princess carry. Speed on par with lightning, I didn’t even see her move.

She slowly smells the neck of the woman before bearing 8 fangs. Lightly puncturing her neck and drinking from her. I feel the transfix start to unravel, the rope splitting and breaking. Thankfully she pulls away before the connection snaps.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“That cattle tasted wonderful; how rare. You have good taste, young thing.”

“She was the best I’ve found. The next meal won't be quite as wonderful, sorry.” Feeling bad that people are being treated like animals.

She just tuts before shooing me away. I splash a potion of healing on the woman before returning her to bed. Leaving a golden apple on her bedside. “Sorry,” I whisper into her ear before disappearing into the night. Morality might be weakened, but it’s not gone. And old habits die hard.

The next victim was a slumbering man, who reminded me of curry. Ashen skin tone with brown cloths; he sleeps peacefully in his king-sized bed. Beginning to transfix him, it's always been more difficult with this man. Spending extra time to reinforce the bindings around his mindscape.

Brining him to Lilith, she looks over him with curiosity. “He had a witch in his family.” She says as if it's obvious.

“How can you tell?”

“The young.” She tuts. “Cant you smell the magic; that hum around him.”

Coming closer and focusing, I can feel it. A very subtle hum of what I think is natural energy. “I’ll be damned, a nature mage.”

“Partial, nature mage.” A family member likely a generation or two back. He might not even be aware. Now, thank you for the meal.” She says before biting into the man.

He winces in pain, the mental contraints hold, but it gave me a headache. She steps away, “Return the man. Then you will receive your gift.”

Laying the man back down to his restful slumber. A slight frown on his brows. I place a small note on his side, you're blessed by nature; don’t waste it.” Ambiguous but the most I'm willing to do. It's his gift as a thank you.

Returning to a smiling Lilith, she speaks with a flirtatious tone, “come here, my darling.”

I move towards her with little strength to resist. She then looks down at me, Kneel.” She commands. With difficulty, I resist the mental pressure. Eventually, I fall to my knees, gaining a chuckle. She crouches to my side, “Now, your reward, my little warrior.” She then bites her lips until they bleed before kissing me lightly. Warmth flowing through me, followed by tangible power; struggling, I stand back up. The woman is a distance away, looking at me with amusement.

“Could have warned me,” I say with false hate.

She smiles brightly, “and ruin the surprise, nonsense.”

And with that, reality rips asunder once more. She steps into the rift with little care. Waving my goodbye with a smile. As the rift clamps shut, I see her blow me a kiss. All it does is send a shiver up my spine.

Returning home and taking a long bath. No matter how beautiful she is, she gives me the creeps. I can still hear her chuckle in my ears. That laugh like a banshees screams echoes in my head on repeat like a nightmare. Bringing my knees to my chest for comfort.

Stepping out of the water was difficult, but I did it anyway. Stretching lightly before parsing apart my new ability. Flexing my body, I realize my power grew far more than a normal level up. My new power is the ability to become a bat. Well, a swarm of bats, but I have the feeling I can become a single bat if I wish.

Unable to resist the temptation, I shift. Feeling the constant drain on my vitality as I fly around. The shift is strange, so very strange. I can feel myself become everything like a gas. I can see in the third person and first person, whichever I wish. The bat’s eyes are mine, and I can control them independently. Although, controlling more than 3 gave me a migraine. Yes as a bat, I can feel a migraine.

I spend a good while playing with the ability. It feels like true magic, mysterious and strange. Eventually, the thirst turns from lightly parched to a savanna within my throat. Forced to feed, I return to my hunting ground. Prowling the streets like a predatory, I wonderful smell catches my attention.

Following the pervasive odor of sweet and sour; I come across a well-dressed guard. Getting closer, the thirst grows stronger, “I must drink their blood.” They smell amazing. Falling into a prowling stance, I look at my prey. Gold encrusted armor with a massive feather, they look weak. 2 guards at his side, simple pawns. With focus, I transfix all 3, using a light connection to daze the 2 pawns. Sending them away. Focusing all my energy on disabling the man in the middle, I feel him resist strongly.

“He is strong, run?” my rational mind biting back at the lust for his blood. I suddenly rush him, tackling him to the ground. He doesn’t resist as I drink his blood. I manage to wrestle back control before I kill the man. The thick blood tasted divine, it was very difficult to stop.

I have only the barest attention, struggling to throw a health potion at the man before leaving. Finally away from temptation, I realize I lost control. I put all my careful planning in the bin for a nice tasting person. The predatory side of me in this body scares me.

Eventually, I calm down enough to think about the situation. “I need a new hunting ground, if for a few days.” I should also take some time to figure out who I attacked. Although, let’s make sure I’m satiated beforehand shall we?

Heading home, I exit the vampiric body for the first time in almost a week. Feeling warmth was a shock to my body. Once the burning sensation passed, I settled down in a chair. Finding comfort in my pets, slowly stroking and playing with them. Sling happy to just be lightly jiggled while Chic likes to play hide and seek.

I read a book and take my mind off things before realizing it's near dawn. I haven’t slept in this body, I’ll be exhausted if I don’t go to bed.

At first, I headed to bed before my stomach made its self known. Sigh, having multiple bodies has its downsides. Heading to my kitchen, I eat some fruit while preparing a nice porridge. Honey and dates with bits of figs for flavor; the bowl was better than the blood. Or is that a lie to convince me? I manage to eat the whole bowl with little issue. It was tasty and that’s all that matters. Preparing a hot water bottle and some comfortable sheets. I dab some lavender oils on my pillow and open the window a crack.

I need a good night's rest, and I’m making sure of it. And with a quiet battle with my sheets, I settle into comfort. Writing a few letters to Cassie and Jengal for a meetup tomorrow. I will save meeting the mayor for another day, I’m sure he has been busy.

Making sure to clearly write, vampiric urges are not to be messed with within my diary. I disappear into dreamland. Relishing the fact I can dream easily in this body.