When John finally stirred, the pain that radiated from his ribs and jaw was a dull, throbbing reminder of his victory. He felt the heavy, comfortable silence of his large room, but it didn't last. A familiar voice cut through the air.
"Greetings young master, you are probably thirsty."
It was Elena, one of the castle's human-looking vampire maids. She stood by his bedside, offering him a crystal glass that held a thick, dark red substance. John knew it was blood. He hesitated, his hand trembling slightly as he reached out, but he forced himself to take the glass.
"I am kinda thirsty," he admitted, feeling the dehydration from his strenuous, prolonged fight with Thomas.
He brought the glass to his lips and took a small, careful sip. His brow furrowed in concentration. "This blood does not taste the same as my mother's, but I think I will get used to it. Is it animal blood, Elena?"
Elena began shaking her head, her polite, attentive expression unwavering. "It is human blood that we stored in a cooler, master. Is it not to master's liking?"
John's eyes widened. Human blood. The phrase hit him with a cold jolt, overriding the slight metallic taste. He was drinking human blood. He paused, looking down at the red liquid, but then his logical, survival instinct kicked in. I'm a vampire hybrid now, he reasoned, and vampires need blood to live. He raised the glass and took another, larger gulp, nodding to himself. "Nah, it is cool. I can get used to this."
"I don't want to be an inconvenience, can you bring me some meat, chicken or steak, that would be dope."
Elena gave a soft, reassuring shake of her head. "No, master is not an inconvenience. We can make plans to get master different blood, perhaps game blood if you prefer a less metallic taste. And as for the meat, we will do master's bidding. Your body still requires the sustenance of your human heritage, as well as the blood."
"By the way, Elena, do you guys use magic to keep the blood cool? Because I see you guys don't make use of electricity like we do in my world."
Elena nodded her head again, a hint of pride in her manner. "Yes, master, we use inscription magic. We, the clan members, don't perform the magic ourselves. We have to buy or commission the dedicated containers, like a big square box or freezer, from specialized mages who carve the cooling inscriptions directly into the material. That carving keeps everything inside cold without needing any fire or electricity. We use similar methods for the water systems. Everything here runs on the old ways—power carved into the stone by mages we hire."
John looked at Elena and nodded his head slowly, taking in the alien concepts of this world. After he finished the glass of blood, he gave it back to Elena, already feeling a subtle surge of strength.
"Master, Lady Anna also wants to see young master."
John then got out of the bed, the soreness in his body receding slightly. He walked to the door while gesturing with his hand out the door. "Lead the way, Elena."
Elena led John through a maze of quieter, more ornate hallways until they reached a sitting room bathed in morning light. Anna was inside, sitting elegantly by a large wooden table. She was drinking directly from the wrist of one of the castle maids—a young human female who looked completely placid and serene, indicating this was a common, consensual practice.
When Anna saw John entering the room, she stopped drinking with a satisfied sigh and gently asked the maid to leave.
"Greetings, child," she said, her voice warm and smooth. She took a linen napkin and elegantly wiped the stray trace of blood from the corners of her mouth.
"Hey, grandma," John greeted Anna while sitting in the plush chair next to her.
"I heard you trained with Thomas yesterday and managed to win," she said, her eyes twinkling. "That is impressive."
John scratched the back of his head, feeling bashful. "He is far stronger than me, grandma. It was just one punch that I managed to land. I still have a long way to go."
Anna smiled gently, leaning forward slightly. "Perhaps, but Thomas is talented, and he does not lose easily. That one punch was all that was needed, and I am certain it woke up something in him, too." She paused, her smile turning sly. "Now, do you want to come with me to town? I am going to meet an old friend."
"Sure, grandma," John replied, eager to see anything outside the castle walls.
When John left the room to get properly dressed, Anna turned to Elena. "Elena, dear, go change your clothes. I want you to accompany John when we go to town. He is clearly more comfortable with you by his side, and I will feel better knowing he has a reliable companion."
"This one will do as you command, Lady Anna," Elena said while giving a light bow.
John stood outside the massive castle doors, impatiently waiting for Anna and Elena to arrive. He was bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet, eager for his first true trip into this new world.
Suddenly, Carmilla appeared next to him, seemingly out of thin air.
John was startled, jumping slightly backward. "How did you do that?" he asked, a mix of annoyance and curiosity in his voice.
"Do what?" Carmilla asked innocently, clearly enjoying his reaction.
"Never mind. Me and grandma are going to town."
"Then I am coming with, if you don't mind," Carmilla declared, already falling into step beside him.
A sudden, generous thought struck John. "Do you want some chocolate?" he asked, then, with a familiar, well-rehearsed gesture, he pulled a chocolate bar out of his storage ring. "Do you want some?"
"Sure, I want to try the food from your world," Carmilla replied, genuinely curious.
John broke the chocolate bar in half and gave Carmilla a piece. She examined the brown square carefully before taking her first little bite. Immediately, her black eyes widened in stunned delight. The slow, delicate chewing stopped as a look of pure bliss washed over her face. In a quick, unrefined motion, she placed the whole remaining piece in her mouth and started to devour it.
"Uhm, John, do you probably have more?" she asked, chocolate smeared across her perfect lips.
John looked at her, genuinely shocked by the powerful, immediate reaction of the ancient vampire's daughter to the simple pleasure of Earth sugar. With a good-natured sigh, he gave her the last piece of his chocolate.
As he watched her happily eat, a long, black object approached the castle gates. It was a mysterious carriage, drawn by two powerful, dark horses. It looked expensive, and it moved with an air of secretive, heavy importance, stopping directly in front of the castle's main archway.