Born in Blood



"Sun-bathers! I swear, I'll tear out your organs and eat you alive once I get fre—"

Another kick shattered the remaining fangs in the vampire's mouth.

"I'd watch my mouth closely if I were you. I'll gouge out your eyes next. We'll see if you can regrow a limb or organ."

Niveh flinched. The cold glimmer in Liam's eye didn't match any human she'd seen in the past. It made her wonder if the boy in front of her was truly human, or a demon pretending to be one.

Her mangled arms were already starting to squirm together and reform. Her regeneration was much, much faster compared to Liam and Nord's.

'Can they really regrow limbs?' Liam wondered, before taking a moment to assess her aura.

Converging on her left breast, Liam could see an influx of blood-red energies rapidly swirling. That was the Nexus, he was sure. As the wound on her arms healed, Liam spotted the energies slightly dimming to reform the flesh.

The blood of the vampire wasn't like humans' either, it was much more bright. Zooming in his retina, it even had different shades of red that signified its purity and impurity.

Nord caught up a moment later.

As his eyes fell on the vampire, his glaive flashed and nearly severed her neck clean off. Liam stopped it in the nick of time.

The boy glared, but Liam reassured with a calm smile.

"She'll be our guide." 

Liam clarified with a knowing smile, before shifting her attention to the maimed Niveh pinned to the wall. 

"You'll comply, right? You don't have much of a choice, though."

They were yet to explore and understand the layout and politics of the Korsan continent. Nor did they understand why the vampires were 'growing' humans in farms, or who supplied them those humans in the first place.

Well, Liam had a few theories, but still. Subduing an actual vampire would do wonders for their progress.

Absorbed in his musings, Liam suddenly realized there was a second party missing.

'Shirzx,' he thought, taking out his Jade and calling Nessa and the others. It flickered to life, and Nessa's voice rang out.

"We're okay. We were attacked by a vampire, but Rin took care of it. What about you two?"

Liam heaved a relieved sigh. 

"We're fine. We'll bring back a guest shortly." 

Thankfully, none of the villagers had woken up, as the cultivated fields were still a good distance away from the main village housings.

///

To Liam's dismay, Rin had swiftly taken care of the other vampire, who now resembled an insignificant burn mark on the ground, ashes swept away by the wind.

It was a pity, Liam realized. He would have liked to study the Nexus and blood… but no fret. 

Niveh was still well and alive, although distraught and sorrowful at the other vampire's sight.

That said, Rin looked incredibly worn out and tired – her lips were pale and… burnt? Nessa had given her multiple pills that brought back her complexion, but she still looked exhausted.

"You've done well," Liam complimented and exchanged an understanding nod with her.

Meanwhile, Niveh had a stubborn look on her face as Nord held her at glaive. They brought her inside the base and examined her for any devices, but she had nothing. 

Liam dismissed Nessa and Gerald despite their protests. They were promptly tasked with fixing the base.

"Unless you two can stomach torture, there's no reason for you to stay around."

With a pout and a grumble, they stood outside the door.

With that, Liam, Nord and Rin stood opposite to the tied up Niveh seated on a chair.

"First question. Who do you work under? This isn't an operation between just two vampires," Liam asked with an inquisitive gaze. 

Too much pressure wasn't good when interrogating someone heartbroken. He'd hold off the threats for the time being.

Niveh had her head lowered, her solemn gaze to the ground. Slowly, she raised it, then spat on the floor with a toothless mouth.

"Kill yourself."

Liam sighed and shook his head. 

He gently took Niveh's hand in his own, delicately wrapping her fingers around hers like a loving spouse. She looked confused, her brows furrowed in misunderstanding.

"Wrong answer."

CRACK!

Liam clenched and bent Niveh's hand forward, breaking her wrist. 

Her high-pitched screams echoed throughout the base. Gerald and Nessa shivered as they heard it, glad they chose to leave.

"Try again?" Liam offered, wrapping his fingers around her left this time. 

Rin and Nord's expressions didn't change, but they made a strict mental note not to make an enemy of Lawrence.

Waiting for her breathing to steady, Liam calmly waited for an answer.

"We all work for those in the Citadel," she said, breathing erratically between words. She honestly felt like weeping. "We farm the humans and… throw them to the Feeding Grounds."

Liam remained silent. Niveh continued, shifting uncomfortably. With a reluctant tone, she continued:

"Not all of us are sentient. The Feeding Grounds are places where lesser vampires grow their Nexus and purify their blood. They kill and feed off each other until one eventually evolves. Ours is right past that mountain."

The three absorbed the info silently.

A brutal way of advancing, that was for sure, but damn if it wasn't efficient. 

"I assume that's what you and the other one did?" 

Niveh nodded.

"How many Feeding Grounds are there, and were you the only two operating it?" Liam asked. "How did you use your strings? You didn't explain what the Citadel is, either."

Niveh clicked her tongue in frustration. Bits of her hand started to reform again, and her fangs were starting to regrow.

"I don't know the exact number, but there are eight different Feeding Grounds on this side of the mountain chain. And no, that's reserved for someone higher Ranked. I myself am Rank 2, and Shirzx was a little weaker than me." 

"Above us is someone named Vxich, the Blooder, a complete Rank 3. You cannot defeat him, not even three of you together."

Niveh paused, furrowing her brows.

"And they're called Blood Arts! Not… 'strings'. The Citadel is where the upper echelon of vampires live. The strongest and most influential of them… and also where our beloved Pashah lives. What are you people doing here anyway?"

Liam didn't respond.

'I underestimated how advanced they could be. Clearly they're not mindless monsters… to think they had their own society.'

After a short pause, Liam couldn't help but ask.

"How do your Blood Arts work?"