Mukuka

The digging was beyond exhausting. So much so that I almost quit, and decided to just find someone rich and take their bunker. Nevertheless, I stuck with it, understanding the importance of Anonymity. The less I was known, the harder I was to find.

Finally, the base was complete— well complete enough to block out sunlight and have me hidden and incredibly hard to reach. It went down quite far. It would need furniture, and surfaces that are flatter, maybe some windows from the second floor up, but overall, pretty

The rest of the time I spent, was making the floors as flat as possible and the little cave more inhabitable. Over the few hours I worked on it, it started looking more and more like an inverted castle. The first floor had a mostly open area with a portion that could serve as a large library.

The second floor was carved to be something of a storage area, and quarters for the people I was going to feed off of.

It was going to act as a fridge and hold my ‘rainy day’ stash of blood bags.

The third was my floor. This would be the place where I would relax and enjoy the passing years. It looked shabby, and it was still mostly made of stone, but it was going to become my home.

I placed my coffin in a little nook, slanted at an angle that I instinctively felt was a good one. Looking back at it, it would be hilariously theatrical when I emerged from my coffin, levitating at the furthest end of the room I had carved out for myself, and stood back.

I could already see the vision of beauty I was going to slowly morph this place into. I suppose I would need a garage as well. Though that’s probably only going to happen in a few years.

My body began calling for blood again, and surprisingly, I felt drawn to the city. I felt the pull in a similar way to the time I slipped into Jakoby’s mind.

Master?….

I heard his voice. Uncertain, yet so expectant. The shock put me on edge and I could feel my body prepare for murder. Claws were out, fangs broke through my gums, and my senses turned on, taking in every single sound, and vibration. it took a few minutes for me to calm down, and reach out mentally again.

“Jakoby?” I sent intent down the channel that reached him before.

How are you doing this? He asked, a sense of bewilderment ringing in his mind. And why the heck did I call you master?

I understood his worry. Having someone in your brain was…. Less than ideal to say the least.

“I don’t know.” I sent it again. “But I’m hungry. How is your body? Can I feed?”

Yes, master. I’m ready and willing. I sensed warmth and openness from the homeless man. Again, a lack of guilt sent a sliver of worry through my brain, but the sense of …rightness was overpowering, so I chose not to think too hard about this.

“Alright. Where are you? I’m coming.”

Master, can’t you sense my presence? I can feel you even now. You’re in the mountains to the west of me.

This information, brought with it a new sense. The man was right. When I focused, I could feel his…. Blood? East of my current location.

I wondered if this was the familiar my maker spoke of.

a few leaps and I was out of my ‘bunker’ and once again, weaving through rock and tree until I was back in town.

Jakoby seemed much more alert. His heart beat was certainly stronger. I got curious but first, I needed to feed.

“When did this happen?” I asked, with what must have been an incredulous face, once I was satiated.

“I thought you would know master.” Jacoby replied, incensed at my ignorance.

“This is good.” I said, before offering him more of my blood. “Drink.”

The more blood I give him, the quicker he’ll generate blood, and that means ill be able to drink safely. I mused, as he latched onto my wrist.

“I remember I promised you I would help you with your family matters.” I said, watching him for a reaction.

I was painfully aware I didnt know how familiars actually worked, and having shown him my ignorance already, I decided it was best to Remind him that I can do things for him that others can’t.

“This wont happen over night, but it will still happen significantly faster that you could with your own power.”

“Yes.” I heard. There was a hint of anticipation in his voice. He wanted it. He wanted to be close to his family again. I could feel it pouring off of his mind. Waves of hope and anticipation. “How do we do it?”

“Well,” I started, “first, I need your help to establish myself. Today, we’re going to find money, and if possible, some information on the land that I think will be my man cave. Do you know any really high-end clubs that we can infiltrate? We need to find a very rich person to leech off of.”

“Of course master.” Jacoby replied, then paused. His mood sinking.

I took a peek, and saw that the lounge he used to go to when he was still with his family, was… fro lack of a better phrase, out of commission.

“Before we get there,” the older man spoke up, “We should probably get some better looking clothes. We’re really dirty.”

“Now that, I can take care of. Let’s go to the Richardson. Ill get you a penthouse to work out of.” I said, hoisting him up, and with a running start, jumped onto the neares roof top. Jak’s yelp was comedic relief.

As we traveled, I gave him the quick lowdown on the hunters,and the cost that came with the power I now had at my disposal.

“Three times a day?!” Th older man gasped out, shock making his brain scramble. It was unusual watching someone’s brain try to come to terms with shocking news. I’d decided I would try to help him with that at a later date.

For now, I needed to get him in a proper place to stay, and around the more wealthy of the city’s population. So we could set up a solid anonymous base, from which to operate from.

The Richardson was a beautiful, opulent building, that demanded attention in a subtle i-know-im-beautiful manner. It simply couldn’t be anything but a shining beacon of elegance and style. The beige building that had black iron accents stood on the intersection of two streets, a little close to downtown. The building was fairly tall, standing a hundred and twelve floors off the ground.

After landing a few buildings away, I got us back to the ground level. Luckily for me, most of the stone and dust chips had been removed from my clothing as I ran and jumped, so walking in, with Jak in toe, was not too unsettling for the inhabitants, and I knew I looked like a rich person that just happened to be lightly dusted with—God knows what.

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I walked up to the receptionist, and in my sweetest voice lulled her into a sense of awe.

“Hi love. My buddy here’s gotten into a bit of a tight spot, and I’m thinking of parking his foolish ass in one of your lofts while we wait on the jet to come get us.” I paused, turned to Jak pensively and said “three?”

Don’t freak, just act uninterested and dazed.

After he absentmindedly nodded, I turned back to the red headed receptionist and spoke again.

“So…. Yeah. Three days.”

Having such an unusual man speak to her so cordially nearly broke her out of the little mental spell I’d placed, but a quick catch of my slip-up brought her right back.

I realized that most wealthy people rarely spoke to the receptionists and “the help”.

I made a mental note to keep scanning as many brains as I could, to learn more about the habits of the elite class, so I could emulate them better. I was aware I would be rubbing shoulders with them, and definitely didn’t want to stick out.

“Absolutely sir. Will that be by card or by credit?” She replied, with brown eyes sparkling.

“That’s the thing—” I did a quick scan for her name “—Ella. My cards are coming with my butler, so we’ll have to put it on a tab for tonight and settle the rest of the dates tomorrow. Think you can do that for me?”

I felt a sensation of resistance, but it was quickly quelled.

“I’d owe you one.” I said suggestively.

“Al-alright. But you have to come settle first thing in the morning tomorrow!” Her professional voice wavering, giving way to an unsteady, but resolute tone. “And you’re going to take me on a date.” She added quietly.

Ah. So she does think I’m pretty.

“Took the words right out of my mouth.” I said, flashing her a smile.

She quickly had us up in one of the three penthouses, with a key, and a few numbers for concierge services.

I decided it would be a good idea to leave Jakoby to rest and clean himself up, while I went to get us some clothing and find a few donors.

As soon as I opened the door, I slumped. The mental gymnastics really took a toll on me, and I could feel the tell-tale sign of aching gums and dry throat.

blood.

Blood.

BLOOD.

Quickly turning around, I was shocked at the hunger that hit me. I felt my body dry up and go numb. It was on the verge of taking over.

I turned, and with speed and dexterity that I thought I would never have, had my fangs buried in Jakoby’s neck.

I sensed shock and fear come off him in waves. It was also in his blood. A different flavour. Richer. Heavier. Heady.

It took him poking my eye for me to realize I was draining him too quickly.

Master, please. Let me recover, and you’ll have more.

Stop, or I’ll murder you.

I could hear the fear in his mental voice. And I saw an image of how I looked.

If not for the fact that I was monstrous, then for the fact that all elegance and grace my new body gave me went right out the window, I cringed.

“Sorry Jak. Using my power is… taxing, and the only way a vampire can recover is through sleep, or blood. Me being a fledgling means I recover best by excessive amounts of both.”

“No worries. Just… be gentle. It’s an uncomfortable feeling having little to no blood in one’s system.”

One isn’t enough. I thought to myself. The amount of blood I had to drink, couldn’t be supplied by a single human being constantly. I needed to get a few more people that would give me blood. Maybe that receptionist?

I knew I had a date with her at some point, so I figured after I had our first “cash cow,” I’d get her and use her as a blood donor. I could also steal some rich people experience from her aswell.

I walked out of the loft, and made my way to the lobby. It wasn’t very busy, and I could tell that things were quieting down. I passed by the reception, to tell Ella that I would love her to accompany me tomorrow. A quick wink and flash of my pearly whites, had me out the door and into the night.

I immediately hailed a cab and told them to get me to the most expensive club they knew.

Throughout the drive, I felt my hunger flare a few times, so I opened the window so as not to have to deal with the human scent. The city’s landscape, sounds and smells burying the scent and heartbeat enough that I could save precious mental energy.

When we arrived, I was impressed.

The Embassy was gothic, and regal. The club, rather than being a sing floor or basement, was an entire building, that was stunningly beautiful. Its silhouette alone was reminiscent of a massive castle

After a quick mental probe, I had the cab driver on his way, and I was in the building. I then started scanning the place. I imagined waves of mental energy being sent out from my sphere of protection, and almost every ping back was about sex, drugs, and violence.

I filtere those out.

Continuing on, I honed into a few conversations happening on a VIP section, so I looked into those and found a target.

“Henry, you know that’s only going to offer me a forty eight percent yield, and I need fifty to even stay afloat.” A woman spoke in a deeper, more relaxed voice. “How do you think we could work together to bump it up to sixty?”

“I Told you we can’t do it Lisa. It’s already hurting my management costs to undercut price this far.” I heard a man’s voice. “Best I can do is forty eight. Maybe if we look into a three way partnership, we could figure something out.”

That beautiful sentence was my que-in.

“Looks like you guys need a middle man?” I said, as I opened the booth and stepped in. There were two leather couches opposite each other. The room was lightly scented, and the wood both of them turned around and evaluated me. Head to toe.

I mentally probed them both.

RESPECT, ADMIRE, DESIRE

I planted those thoughts, feelings and emotions, then proceeded to sit on the couch, next to Lisa.

“How about you give me the breakdown? I might be able to help.” I said, boring holes into her eyes.

“Uhm…. Sure? My family owns a manufacturing business and Henry here, is in transport.” She said, pointing at the older male. “Now we’ve got a new product that would sell well if I could get a decent transport route, for a cheap price. I’m negotiating with Henry in that vain.” She said.

“Did you know that he has about a hundred or so haulers that aren’t doing anything?” I replied, after taking a quick peek at Henry’s mental library.

Before he could speak up, I shot him a mental note.

Henry, you need to think about building a firm working relationship. She’s gonna owe you a favour, because this move of hers will get her up a lot higher in her family’s hierarchy. You want to be the reason she grew. That’s value she can’t deny.

Henry’s eyes illuminated, and a big smile spread his lips.

“Alright Mr….”

“Safah.” I said, taking my eyes away from Lisa to lock with his.

“..Right. Mr. Safah here seems to know quite a lot about my company. He’s done his Due diligence.” Henry chuckled and took a deep swig of his scotch. “You have yourself a deal, but this means you owe me. I know how big of an opportunity it is for you, so keep in mind, if it works, I have right of refusal for the next three products, along with an introduction to the rest of the Jægers.” He said, then pulled out his phone. “I have to make a call. Excuse me.”

It’s in your best interest to accept. It’s not pretty, but you of all people know how this world works.

I sent to Lisa, before making myself comfortable.

“How did you find that information?” She asked, shocked, but impressed. Her eyes, though respectful, were still sizing me up.

That couldn’t happen often. I needed her to think twice about double crossing me, or digging into my past.

FEAR I sent another emotion, to coat the cocktail I had previously sent.

“Its in your best interest to know what questions you can and cannot answer.

“Looks like you just made a fantastic deal.” I said. “I wont take my retainer fee this time, but let’s just say, I’ve got big plans for you Miss Jæger.”

I could feel my energy burning up fast. I needed to hurry this on, and get her on board. My head was starting to hurt and I could see this turning into a terrible thing. A family as powerful as hers, meant that I was surely to be hunted if she got hurt.

“I think you should celebrate. It’s a beautiful night out. Go and enjoy it. I’ll be in touch.” I said, and being as sharp as she was, I got her personal phone number.

Henry, don’t leave without me. We should still talk. I sent to the middle aged man. I felt his shock and awe. The after effects of my compulsion hadn’t worn out yet.

Quickly leaving the booth, I chose to ask the bouncer where the car park was. I needed to reserve some strength, or I’d end up going feral again. The strength I expended in the short interaction left quite a toll on me, and I could feel a headache building intense pain behind my brows.

“Just round the back, take the first left down the corridor.” The surprisingly high pitched voice replied.

I moved a little faster than I would have liked, weaving through the bobbing undulating crowd. I heard and smelt things I would rather not speak of, and my body once again requested to take control. Tried to push me out. I held firm. Soon. Soon. Just a little more patience.

Henry was getting into the back of a sleek grey Audi, with tinted windows. As I went down, my body took over for a split second and pulled one of the valets, that were standing, towards me.

I didn’t even have to talk to her. It was as though she knew. In a few seconds, we were in Henry’s car, and I had a female on my lap, lulled by a weaker sense of compulsion.

DRIVE.

A new force came from me and hit his driver. Once the car was moving, I turned to Henry.

STILL.

And with that, the person I assumed to be a millionaire was frozen, his admiration turned to fear, his desire turned to an urge to live.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I realized I had something that no other human had.

Power.

real, foundational, irrevocable power.

There was a new force behind my existence. And I felt a deep sense of pride permeate my being.

So, without much thought, I decided to satiate myself.

“Your neck or wrist love?” I cooed in the Valet’s ear. I didn’t waste time trying to figure out what her name was, or even probing her mind. I Just waited for her answer, and when she replied, took the opposite.

The blood flowing from her neck was rich and full. It tasted of rebellion and danger. Of love and Lust. Of scorched earth and oak. It….overwhelmed me, to the point I blacked out.