[Blood Diary Entry]
"It is done," Nico spoke.
I clenched and unclenched my hand several times, testing if I could feel a difference or if I could perceive the effects once more. And there was no difference whatsoever.
The three of us looked at Nico, but it was Rebekah who spoke first. "Thank you."
Nico waved her off. "I am just fulfilling my part of the agreement."
Rebekah nodded and rolled her shoulders a bit.
Then Nico's attention turned to me. "I assume you felt your blood heating up during the ritual?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Rebekah and Mother became a bit defensive; their position screamed 'high alert'.
Nico paid them no mind and simply awaited my answer. When I nodded in response, he started running his fingers through his tangled beard. The chaotic mess of hair twisted and bent around his hand before it went back to that same disorganized mess from before.
"As the blood connection between you three was what allowed the ritual to take place, I found it only fair if that same blood became the 'key'."
This time, I was the one to go into protective mode. "What do you mean by key?"
He raised an eyebrow and looked at me as if I were a fool. "I can't make a foolproof ritual. That doesn't lie in my capabilities. There is always a catch, a way to bypass a shield. A crack in a fortress, so to say."
I growled, anger rising in my chest, and that same heat flared atop my left shoulder. "And you didn't think of mentioning this before?"
Nicodemus's gaze was unimpressed. "It is basic magic knowledge… boy," he made a point to emphasize the word 'boy'. He exhaled tiredly. "But you can stop growling, the sound is a bit harsh on the ears."
"And why would I do that?" I said in between gritted teeth.
"Because the key to bypass the ritual… is your blood." He smirked. "And I don't think acquiring that is exactly easy."
Rebekah whistled, impressed. "Crafty."
Mother, though, didn't let on so easily. "And you didn't hide any more surprises?"
Nico shook his head. "Even if I wanted to, the spell would have backfired if I did anything malicious towards the three of you."
"Why?" I asked, though my voice was still brimming with irritation.
"I don't know why," he answered shamelessly.
"Then how-"
"Just a feeling." He interrupted me.
Nico gave all of us a look, almost as if he was mentally saying goodbye. Then he stretched his arms wide, he yawned, and his entire persona shifted once more.
And there he was again.
The insane chocolate enthusiast…
He took a look around the chamber, and his nose wrinkled in annoyance.
"I keep saying I could store some chocolates in here, or that these roots could be used as some marvelous ingredients… But nooo, 'this is sacred ground'," he scoffed, "no one respects chocolate over here."
I shook my head and turned my attention from him towards my mother and Rebekah. "Can we leave now?" I asked with a tired tone.
Rebekah giggled. "Just one final thing…" She turned towards Nico. "Where's the stuff you promised me?"
Nico didn't even pay attention to her, as he just pointed to the corner of the room, where there was a simple chest. "It's all in there. Plus, a little extra for the kid, for cleaning up after the mess." He gave me a thumbs up.
"What is this 'extra'?" I asked curiously.
He tilted his head in disinterest. "It's not chocolate."
"I see…" I pinched the bridge of my nose. "That was very helpful of you."
He nodded. "If you want, I can change that… I'm sure I have some bars with Catoblepas caramelized blood lying somewhere. They get the blood pumping quite nicely. Though you do get a nasty headache due to it."
I didn't even bother replying to that, as I just turned and waved over my shoulder as I walked away. "Goodbye, Nico! It was great meeting you."
I could hear him chuckling and muttering. "Rude kid."
Then Rebekah and my mother followed, as we left the chamber and then the store. Leaving Nico to stew over his cocoa-filled madness.
The three of us walked through the empty streets—the emptiness was lighter this time, a bit less apocalyptic, but still quite peaceful.
Not one of us wanted to break the comfortable silence, as we simply walked to the home we had stayed at the night before. The SUV was parked there, and we left some stuff inside the house as well.
I basked in the comfortable warmth of the sun. The faint whistling of the wind.
As I drew comfort in nature's simple gifts, my thoughts wandered back to that chamber. Where Nicodemus had said I was 'attuned' to nature, and that I resonated with it in some capacity.
That surprised me, no small amount, that's for sure.
While Higher Vampires are 'natural' creatures, as we weren't made from a spell or pathological miracle—or curse, depending on who you ask. I wouldn't quite call my species eco-friendly…
And no matter how much I went over possible answers for this, none seemed quite satisfying, nothing seemed to fit.
It felt like I was somehow being led by the nose. And I REALLY don't enjoy the feeling of it.
Then out of nowhere, a hand ruffled my hair.
I turned to look at the culprit, but only found my mother smiling warmly at me.
"What are you thinking?" She asked, not only out of curiosity, but out of an instinctual motherly worry.
I eyed her for a second, then out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Rebekah was also paying attention to the conversation. I turned my head and looked forward to the distance. "I was just replaying everything that happened since we arrived here."
Mother laughed. "Quite a lot for a couple of days, I admit."
I chuckled alongside her. "Where to now?" I asked Rebekah.
"Straight to New York. And with some good fortune, we are not going to stumble across another 'situation'." She answered.
I gave her a dry look.
"What?" She asked innocently.
I sighed, exasperated. "You just had to say that… Now I know for sure something is going to happen. And it is your fault!" I pointed an accusatory finger at her.
"Huh?! What are you talking about?" She blinked confusedly.
"Mark my words… Just because you said that, something is definitely going to happen."
Mother shook her head and walked ahead of us.
"I'm dealing with two children…" She muttered.