Chapter 91: Becoming a true born

“Now what?” I have a story; and a base, “Now what?” I repeat. I find the idea of having an evil goal distasteful. Immortality, summon, and evil; all goals to avoid. Although, maybe not the goal but a reward for joining? What’s stopping me from creating a vampire cult? For convenience, I would need to become one. If it’s body-based, that’s fine. Now if it's a curse of the soul? That presents some issues.

Well, it’s worth a try to see if it’s a viable idea. There are two cures normally. Giving garlic to Lilith and rite of remove curse. Thankfully less intensive than removing the curse of lycanthropy. Which requires 5 or 6 coven witches to complete. I have everything to complete the rite, so if I become a vampire, it’s not the end of the world.

Heading home to collect the simple ingredients. A skull, string, Redstone, and torches. Having memorized the whole process, but for safety, I crafted observation of an immortal. Finding it complete upon crafting, a pleasant surprise.

Night had begun, I begin the rite. Taking a chicken, placing its head on the earth before drawing a line forward. It goes limp, perfect. Placing it above the skull with a boline and chalice. “Sorry chicken, “I say before slashing its neck quickly. Allowing the blood to pour into the goblet as the body writhes for a moment longer than I felt comfortable. Pushing the disintegrating body aside, I slowly pour the crimson ichor over the skull. “I feel like I’m part of a cult just doing this.”

The blood runs down it normally before slowly being drawn into the empty sockets of the skull. Creating a startling display as red-light seeps from the holes in the skull. Suddenly the air above the skull shimmers gently before a figure materializes. A beautiful woman appears. Pale skin with red lips and a black and red dress on; she's empty of thought, in a fugue state. I hear a gentle echo in the air, “Bring my daughter to the nether for me.” The voice seethes with malice, yet is enchanting in some melodic way.

Waving my hand in front of the woman, I find her completely unresponsive. Touching her results in my hand feeling resistance before passing through her. “She's a bloody ghost!” A shiver running up my spine at the thought. Holding my shakey hands still, I gently place her within a golden lasso.

Heading towards the nether portal, it feels far more, eerie than normal. A soundless echo passes through with phantom sounds. The shimmer seems ever more dangerous than normal. Looking through the window with heavy limbs, I walk forward. Feeling the membrane burst like a soap bubble as I step into the hot world.

Slowly walking down, I step towards the lava lake. Finding myself on the cusp of the roiling lava. Taking an audible gulp, I release the ghost into the lava. She sinks slowly, not a single reaction on her face to the suffocating smoke and heat around her.

As she begins to completely submerge, she shimmers into particles, slowly disappearing in the air. Watching as the air above where the ghost disappeared shimmers and cracks, like smoke parting. “Well done.” The melodic voice says in an alluring and pleasant tone. “Now come to me, let me test you, child.” I finally hear with a dangerous charm.

Finally, space falls apart at the seams. Revealing a deep blue abyss of rock and darkness. Within is a large woman; pale with red eyes and 8 sharp fangs. Long slender legs and arms tipped in black razor-sharp claws. A black dress split at the legs, made of some strange material covers her curvaceous figure.

She is the pinnacle of beauty, yet my mind screams danger. Shaking away in the hopes of escaping her dangerous charm from my mind. Her beauty like a constricting snake around my chest, freezing me stone cold.

The ice-cold sensation begins to spread through my body. Finally gaining a semblance of control I back away with all the strength my heavy limbs can muster.

My mind finally clear, I speak. “Hello, Lilith.” She looks at me with intrigue.

“You know my name child? How peculiar.” Bringing her hand up to her face, inspecting her claws before turning her piercing red eyes towards me. “Not only know it but also know of me; very rare.”

Feeling like my mind is being read, a shred of fear travels through me. Holding my shaking body still and looking through her. Something tells me looking her directly in the eyes is unwise. So that interview trick actually came in handy; how surprising.

Slowly she walks towards me, her skin turning black as scythes extend from her arms. Viscous canines extend from her face the size of my forearm. She begins to sprint towards me, I take this as my cue to fight back. She is swift, like a bolt of lightning. Taking flight, I narrowly dodge a scythe after my neck.

The bloodlust in the air is palpable. She begins to run up the hill to my side before launching off it. Attempting to strike me in the air. I dodge like a housefly, quickly thinking up a battle strategy. Getting several close shaves during the process. Eventually, timing one of her launches I dodge her strike and viscously lash out at her head. Missing and digging a deep gash in her side. Watching as the wound heals quickly, I need to go on the offensive.

Rushing her, as she strikes. Her blades bouncing off my armor with much of the force weakened. Only wincing at the force before drawing another wound. Piercing through her chest into her right lung. Withdrawing my sword before being battered away by a strong punch. She rushes me with vigor, as I continue my assault. Tanking blows and doing as much damage as possible. Watching as almost black blood leaks from all over her body.

This goes on for some time before I notice her slowing. Shortly after her strength weakens but speed increases. Leaving slight after images as she strikes at me with a mix of animalistic vigor and martial arts. The close combat brawl quickly ends as I run away. She having tried to bite my neck. Which sent a horrible pang of dread through my being.

She attempts to leap at me again, launching with such force it dented the ground. Cracks spreading from where her feet were as I swerve away; taking a glancing blow to my head. Shaking the dizziness from my mind, I continue on the offensive. Tanking blows before delivering vital strikes; she heavily guards her heart and neck. Taking advantage of this I aim faints at those locations before causing gashes across her body.

This eventually bears fruit as she suddenly disappears before appearing behind me in her pale-skinned human form. Startling me in the process. “Magic or death?” She asks me with a tilted head and an enchanting smile.

“First, I have some questions,” I say with surprising confidence.

“Be quick.” She says dismissively.

“And what do you have to do? Sit in a blue abyss doing nothing?” She just sighs.

“Child, don’t test me.”

“Will your blood curse my body or soul?” I ask the important question.

“It's no curse you nieve babe, it’s a gift. It makes your body stronger, faster, harder, and… better.” She says with an alluring smile.

Ignoring her obvious attempts at charming me, “soul or body, answer the question.”

Her face turning a pale red in obvious annoyance. “It only affects your body, but drinking my blood marks your soul so I can see you.” As she turns away in a childish huff. She's supposed to be ancient not seven.

Good, so it only affects the body. Although the soul marking is annoying, I already have one deity watching me. “Good, is it possible for me to escape the weakness to the sunlight?”

She narrows her eyes, “How do you know, few vampires still walk the earth. The order having hunted them to near exstinction over a millennia ago. Child answers me.” She says, taking a threatening step forward.

“It doesn’t matter, do you not wish for more vampires?”

Her face softens ever so slightly. “I do wish for my children to once more walk among mortals. Tasting their tender flesh, I haven’t indulged in so very long.” She visibly quivers as she recalls her last feast. The thought fills me with dread. Yet she turns her eyes to me, “I will not ask of how you came to learn of me and my born, but if you help me nurture more vampires… I will remove the weakness of sunlight. Truly bring them back to full glory, and your reward shall be granted. Break the oath and I shall hunt you down and devour you.”

“I accept, may we speak soon.” Shivering in fear and excitement at the prospect of having 2 quests have the same goal – kind of. I hold my chalice out, or should I say goblet for her to give me her blood. She just chuckles, “No, my darling.” As she slits her wrist, ripping my helmet off and forcing the blood down my throat.

I back away, wiping the sickly bloody from my mouth. The pure energy I feel from it is startling. “As my champion, you should be stronger than the common rabble. Accept the true blessing of the night.”

Feeling my blood run cold as my heart slows, clutching my chest in pain as I feel a writhing heat within myself. Eventually, the pain subsides as cold seeps into my bones, my body pulsing with a slow rhythmic heart rate. Feeling my veins as they pump some kind of energy, vitality around my body. I no longer have blood in my body, I have pure life energy. The power I feel in my limbs, the clarity in my mind; like a fog lifted. Eyes so sharp my whole life feels like it's been in low definition.

Feeling a small bundle of energy in my chest, I mentally tug on it. Feeling it shrink ever so slightly as my skin shifts to black. My body increasing in height as I grow into a beast similar to Lilith. 8 fangs within my mouth and long serrated blades along my forearm. “Did I become Dracula?”

“Who, child?” I turn to see a giggling Lilith.

Focusing inwards I return to a human state. “This is not normal vampirism is it?”

“Of course, not darling. If you are to resurrect an almost dead species, a good boost is important. You are the closest to being like me since dear Mossegar.”

“Thank you, Lilith, although I warn you. I will bring vampires back; but not as monsters but a noble and respectable group. No needless and undeserved killing, fair and honorable people to carry the curse.”

She just chuckles. Slowly dissipating, “I will see you soon, true born.”

As she finally disappears from sight I fall on my rump. Wow, that was a nightmare. She's a flirtatious vixen even the most daring would not court. I’m going to go home and get out of this body; I need a break from this cult thing. I get the feeling this whole thing just got way bigger than I expected. Appreciating the powerful body, I just acquired. Although I now have a soul with 2 marks, one from Felix and one from Lilith. “Any other deities want to mark my soul while I’m at it?”

I suddenly hear a deep rumble as space starts to break apart, “You know, nevermind.” As I disappear back to my castle as fast as possible. Why did I poke the tiger, stupid, stupid? Hearing phantom noises as I recall the rumbling. Putting the thought out of my head, I go towards my body storage. Placing my new vampire body in cold storage, I’ll be working with you in a little bit.

Stepping into a new body this time was a disorientating experience. Feeling a strong pulse and warmth was almost a shock to my body. You definitely aren’t supposed to have more than one body, this is such a cheat. One thing I won't do is mess with my soul. That’s just a recipe for disaster.

Stretching my spare body, this is going to be such a pain in the ass.