Nyxara
"Yes, you are right. This is the Ajei way. I am, of course, upset about what you have gone through, but I am pleased to see you are no longer someone without ambitions beyond being a matriarch for another enclave." Uncle Cor sipped his goblet of blood before he looked at me with piercing eyes.
"I see you have ambition for yourself and your enclave. This is good. This is how you will no longer be stuck at your level. Once your foundation is stable again, I have little doubt you will start climbing levels and ascend to Veil very quickly. It is in our blood. Once we find our passion and focus, nothing is impossible." His grin was secretive and wise. Like he knew something I didn't and couldn't wait to see if his guess would be correct.
I grinned back, happy to have his belief in my capabilities. For a while, we ate and talked. I told them of my clinic rehabilitation and my home recovery lessons. They all asked questions and gave advice. Even my cousins gave some insights from their lessons they thought might apply to mine. With so much information being presented, I was grateful that Líma was taking notes for me to review later. It was during dessert that Taen asked a question I should have anticipated, as my gaze kept returning to the blood goblets of the three vampires.
"Cousin Nyx, why do you keep looking at our goblets? I remember last year you told me that seeing us drink blood disturbed you, but your expression does not look to be one of disgust, so has your opinion changed?" The rest of the table looked at me with cautious curiosity.
Drinking from my water cup, I considered what to say. Did Grey truly feel grossed out by the consumption of blood? So much of what I hear about her feels contradictory to my own beliefs and thoughts that I feel I won't discover the truth any time soon. Right now I'm unsure how to express my opinion without coming off weird on the off chance my interest would be considered abnormal.
I'm brought out of my thoughts when Aunt Zira hesitantly interjects with her own observation. "If I'm not mistaken, Nyx appears to be more fascinated and curious than disgusted. Are you curious about why they need to drink blood?"
"Yes, I am curious about why they need blood. This dinner shows me that vampires consume regular food, so what are the benefits of drinking blood? I am also curious if vampires are the only ones who consume it? Do any of the other races?" Taking this as an opportunity to maybe work my way around to asking about if it would be weird for me to want to try blood, I ask my own questions.
The atmosphere on the screen relaxed immediately, and everyone was smiling again. "Oh, so my little niece is curious about vampires and the blood-drinking habits of the other races. Well, you certainly are asking the right group. By this point, I would assume you have at least been refreshed on all the races and different traits about them?" Uncle Hael interjects with a devilish smile I don't directly look at. After I nod, he continues.
"Then you know vampires are not just drinkers of blood. We are drinkers of essence, emotions, and memories. We are alchemists, artists, fighters, doctors, and so much more. Blood is a conduit we ascend to become masters of. I don't know of anyone else more knowledgeable about blood than your Uncle Cor, but he says he still has much to learn, so we consider him humble about his abilities."
Uncle Cor playfully glares at his mate before he turns his attention to me. "What Hael says is true. For vampires, drinking blood is just the surface of our cultivation. A vampire can, in theory, live without blood, but the price would be that he or she would be stunted in their growth. We must drink quality blood as we ascend. Whether that is from other races or tiered beasts found in the wild. I do consider myself an expert in this field, but there are elders who are ahead of me in knowledge and power."
For a moment, Uncle Cor looked melancholy before his expression cleared, and he was smiling again. "I hope to one day surpass them, and then I can truly claim the title of the most knowledgeable." He lifted Uncle Hael's hand, kissing the palm. I never thought I would be a fujoshi, but Uncle Cor and Uncle Hael are hot together.
"If you two are done gazing into each other's eyes, we do still have the kids present." Aunt Zira interrupted the show by playfully rolling her eyes. Those of us of the younger generation giggled, saying "we don't mind."
Aunt Zira huffed, "Anyway, to answer your other question. Yes, the other races drink blood. Shifters would be the next to consume it most often. It is a part of our cultivation rituals and paths depending on our other side. Psychics, witches, blood-forged, and demons when they drink blood, it is typically part of a ritual.
For example, Rhodri and I are sea serpents and we drink poisoned blood for nutrients and cultivation. Malcolm and Keir drink a blood draught sometimes when they go into battle. Aspen, Lux, and Davina have taken potions that contained blood for ritual purposes." Aunt Zira fell into silence not mentioning Azrail, just looked at Uncle Cor unsure.
Uncle Cor sighed and scratched his head. "Nyota too has drank blood but his reasoning would be either for tracking or just to fuck with people." Then he cut himself another slice of cake and didn't say anything else about the matter. Hmm, there is a story there. I will have to speak to Nimra about this. She is the biggest connection between them so she probably knows. If not her, then I'll just go down the line until someone gives me an answer.
It might not be my business but my instincts tell me this is something that won't get fixed if someone doesn't step in.
Acting like I don't notice the weird atmosphere, I break the quiet. "Wow, I learned so much from you all tonight. This totally makes up for my lesson with Azrail being cut short tonight. Thank you all. I hope you all will be coming home soon. I can't wait to get to spend time with you all in person. Will you be coming home and staying for a while soon?"
Uncle Cor once more relaxed, "Yes, we should be home next month around Umbrafall 12th, the week before the twins' birthday. Barring any inter-regional emergencies, we will be home until the last month of summer, Veloria, when we will do our annual inspection again."
"I can't wait to get back and train with the soldiers. I'm going to grow up and become a captain of a squad like Papa Hael. Maybe I will even get to become head of a division." Rhodri exclaimed, raising her glass in a toast.
"It has been fun to travel to the other regions, but I am ready to go home and back to my studies. How can I become a great medical researcher and doctor if I don't study well?" Taen comments in such a mature tone in his young voice that I can't help smiling. He too raises his glass.
The three adults raise their glasses after exchanging happy looks.
"I can't wait to swim in our underground pool. It has the perfect temperature and quality minerals." Aunt Zira says.
"I can't wait to get back to my tea leaves. I'm sure Malcolm, Nyota, and Rakesh have tended to them well, but I'm sure they miss their papa." Uncle Hael says longingly.
"I miss our bed. Oh, do I miss our bed. I swear, my sister put some kind of spell on it, so I'll always want to go back home to it." Uncle Cor grumbles to all our amusement.
I raise my glass towards the screen. "I look forward to your arrival. It will be good to be surrounded by my enclave as I continue this road to recovery. Return safely to us. We are waiting, and you are missed." They clinked glasses, and we all took a deep drink.
"We are Ajei. Etched in Essence and Blood. We thrive and ascend together." Uncle Cor intones. "We are Ajei. Etched in Essence and Blood. We thrive and ascend together." We intone back, then we all take another drink.
We talked a bit more for another hour before we all said our goodnights. By the time I got in bed, I had five new messages waiting on my phone. Four of the messages were from Uncle Hael, Aunt Zira, Taen, and Rhodri, giving me their numbers and telling me to chat with them when I have time. The fifth message was a text group I was added to by Rhodri that was for all of us second-generation Ajei members.
I fell asleep chatting with my family, feeling that this was truly a life I could have once only dreamt about. A loving family, my best friend, and a future more magical than I could have ever imagined. Maybe there will even be romance in my future if my broken heart can be healed. Step by step, I'll shape my reality.