CHAPTER 07: A KISS OF BLOOD AND LIGHT
My eyes opened to a dark room, the scent of clean linens, and the immense relief of no longer being trapped in what felt like an endless mathematics exam. Dreams were supposed to be whimsical and sometimes fun or sad, but this one had been cruel. It ended with a sprawling, unimaginable test. I could still feel my heart pounding with the stress of it. I knew my figures, and I could even keep accounts well enough, but what madness in my own mind had conjured multivariable calculus just to torment me with a sudden exam? I had a headache even thinking about it.
Doing my best to banish the memory of the nonsensical characters and symbols, I shook my head and looked around. That's when I saw two massive yellow eyes staring in through the window. I nearly fell out of bed before realizing it was just an owl. Smiling at my own panic, I got up and dressed. It felt wonderful to have proper clothes again. I wasn't shy, exactly, but wearing so little outside never felt right.
I didn't know how far I'd need to travel, so I wanted an early start. I fastened my sword and dagger at my waist with the new belt, then tied my hair back with the ribbon in a neat bow. My hood would be up when I left, but I let a few strands fall to frame my face—enough to make me harder to recognize from a sketch. Just to be safe.
As I made my way downstairs, I heard the kitchen already alive with motion. The air was warm with the scent of baking bread and sweet pastries, and laughter drifted through the door, light, familiar, and content. I stopped in the dining room, uncertain if I should step in to say goodbye or just slip away and let them work. The decision was made for me when Natia glanced through the pass-through window and waved brightly.
A moment later, she came around to the dining area, brushing flour from her hands. I straightened and offered her a small curtsy, which made her laugh outright.
"Yes, you look like a fine young lady! I expected nothing less. You look ready to head out already. Not staying for breakfast?"
My decision was swift and resolute. I shook my head, keeping my voice steady.
"No, Mistress Natia. I have a long journey ahead, and I can't be certain I'll find shelter before nightfall. I'm grateful for everything you've done. Could you tell me the name of this village? I'd like to send you a letter once I reach my destination."
She smiled, kind and understanding. "Smart girl. The village is named after the fort, Seabreeze Haven. I'd love to get that letter, just to know you made it home safe. And don't you go thinking you've put us out. The work you did for us yesterday was worth far more than what we gave you. One of the boys brought in a bedroll for you this morning, and I've packed a little food. Let's get you settled so you can be on your way."
She took a moment to show me how to fasten the bedroll to the bottom of my new rucksack and packed a generous supply of preserved food to send with me. I guessed it would be enough to keep a human alive for at least two weeks. For me, it would serve only as a supplement to my regular diet, so it could last me far longer.
Before I could leave, she pulled me into a hug. It surprised me how genuine her sadness felt. It seemed a lot of emotion for such a brief meeting, yet when I saw how her gray hair might once have matched the shade of my own, and remembered how she'd spoken of her daughter in the past tense, I understood. So I hugged her back as warmly and sincerely as I might have embraced Maeyke, and then I went on my way.
I knew most traffic left the town from the north gate, so I headed that way. From the conversations I'd had the previous day, no one at the shop knew where to find Angelshade, or had even heard of the Dark Forest. They thought it might just be a local name for some other wood, but none could say which. That alone told me how far I still had to travel.
My hope was to find a merchant or adventurer who could point me in the right direction. Failing that, I could at least ask the guards for the road to the next large town or village to the west. I kept an eye out for likely candidates as I walked, but I couldn't help being distracted by the life of the village itself.
Logically, I knew that it was the same as it had been the first time I walked through its streets, yet as I took it in again, everything seemed different. It was as if someone had added color to the world. Everything going on made more sense. The children laughing and chasing each other were no longer just background noise; they were alive, and their joy was infectious. I recognized the easy fellowship in a group of workers heading toward the docks and the anxiety of a merchant trying to rush through the crowd. That gentleman was late for something important, and no amount of rushing was going to save him.
I wasn't sure where the insights were coming from, and it didn't matter. What mattered was how it might help me navigate the crowds to find people who would help with what I needed.
I was nearly at the gate when I spotted what looked like a promising group. Two large covered wagons were being loaded under the supervision of a pair of wealthy-looking men, while a third negotiated with a cluster of apparent adventurers. I approached the two men who seemed the least occupied.
"Excuse me," I tried, but they didn't even look in my direction, waving me toward their companion.
"David is hiring on security."
I wasn't security, but I had a feeling arguing that point wouldn't win me any favor, so I simply moved to stand near the others. I listened to their negotiations, though most of it was about places I'd never heard of and the value of services I didn't know how to judge. From what I could gather, they were preparing to travel to a city for an upcoming holiday festival.
The merchant wanted to pay a flat rate. The adventurers wanted a retainer, additional payment for combat depending on the level of threat, and an allowance for maintenance or repairs to their equipment. From what I was hearing, their terms were not only reasonable but standard. The merchant argued it was a safe route and didn't need to be so complicated, but he wasn't getting anywhere.
It seemed they were his only real option, and though their prices were high, they weren't unrealistic. Eventually, the leader of the adventurers—a man a few years older than me, wearing heavy armor and carrying a small arsenal—noticed me waiting.
"Can we help you, miss?" he asked, glancing briefly at where my sword hilt was visible sticking out of my cloak. "I'm sure you're not here to try and snipe a contract." His voice took on a bit of humor mixed with threat, but I ignored him.
Giving a slight bow, I said, "I'm sorry to interrupt. My name is Mirela. I am looking for directions, and you seem to be the most likely to be able to give them. I need to travel to Angelshade outside the Dark Forest."
The man blew a long, loud whistle. "That's quite the trip. Clear across the entire kingdom. Angelshade isn't a good place for a newbie adventurer to start out. That whole region is full of undead and dangerous monsters. You might want to try going south instead."
I shook my head, "I appreciate the advice, but I'm not going there as an adventurer. It's my home."
A look of understanding crossed his face, "I see. Well, the directions won't be your issue as much as the distance. I can go over it with you on my map when we're done here."
The merchant, David, seemed to appreciate that idea. "Yes, Saros, let's move along with this. You know you've got me over a barrel here, but I can't justify so much for healing potions. It would invalidate the entire trip."
I perked up at this, "If you're heading in the same direction I am, I can do basic alchemy and healing."
That gathered a lot more attention than I expected. David, Saros, and the rest of the adventurers looked at me in surprise. Saros spoke first, "You're a healer? You don't look like an alchemist or cleric."
I shrugged, "No, I am not. Despite meeting requirements for several, I have not unlocked any classes."
He crossed his arms and gave me a more appraising look. "Well, how about a demonstration? If you can heal, we could take you on. We're negotiating for the trip to Merrywood Crossroad. It is on the way to Valoria, which would be your next destination, and you would get a share of the coin."
That was far better than I had hoped for. Even the notion of having protection while I slept was enough to make me want to agree. But that brought up another issue. I was completely helpless at night. I had no idea if I could trust these people, but I also got the impression that having a healer around was too important to put them at risk. I decided to be upfront with them.
"I cannot keep watch at night, and it might not be possible to wake me during the night at all. If that is acceptable, then yes, I will give you a demonstration."
That raised some eyebrows, but Saros only nodded, so I pulled my dagger from its sheath and made a small cut in my arm. It bled for a second before closing up on its own. To me, that wasn't much of a demonstration. I knew it was just my natural regeneration, but to everyone else, it looked a lot like magic healing.
"Alright. That is certainly impressive. You didn't even need an incantation. I'm sure whatever class you're working toward will be very interesting. Any objections?"
The only woman in the group stepped forward, their scout, judging by her build and stance. "I want to see her heal me." Without hesitation, she sliced open her own hand.
I had hoped not to need to show them exactly how I'd heal them. I had a feeling they might be a little queasy about it. I stepped forward, raising my hand to my mouth when a ridiculous idea seemed to sprout out of nowhere. With a barely contained smile, I ran my tongue along one of my fangs just hard enough to make it bleed before taking her hand.
Bending over it, I licked my lips, the motion too quick to be seen by anyone not looking for it, and kissed her hand. Fortunately, everyone was too focused on watching the cut on her hand close to notice me licking her blood off my lips with my own freshly healed tongue.
"There. All better," I said in a sweet, singsong voice.
And it was. Her cut closed up almost immediately. She looked up with a snort, "You're going to be trouble, I can tell." At least she was smiling. That was a good sign.
"Alright then," Saros said, settling that matter before turning back to David. "We can exchange that healing stipend for a more reasonable basic alchemy supply stipend. She can make her own potions, and it'll cover any gaps."
They began to talk numbers, and I used the moment to take in the party. They were all in their mid-twenties, not much older than me, and I had the impression they'd been adventuring together since the beginning.
The leader, Saros, was a warrior type. He wore a mix of plate and chain and carried a couple of swords, an axe, and several knives and daggers. He even had a crossbow. His large frame more than supported the weight; he stood well over six feet tall and filled every inch of his armor with solid muscle. His short blonde hair gave him a disciplined, almost militaristic look, but his bright blue eyes softened it with charisma and kindness. I was sure that charm helped him when dealing with people. From how closely the scout stood beside him, she apparently agreed.
She was tall for a woman, close to six feet herself, with long auburn hair tied back and a smile that looked like it belonged there. Her armor was monster hide, expertly crafted, and the bow she carried was nearly her height—a weapon that would terrify anyone on the wrong end of it. I doubted she was fond of close combat, given the small daggers at her hips.
The other two looked to be brothers: one dressed in light armor like the scout, with a more modest bow, and the other in chainmail, carrying a greatsword. I guessed they were a rogue and a warrior, though I wouldn't know for sure until they told me. Both had sandy hair and green eyes, but one kept his hair long while the other's was cropped short. I appreciated the difference; otherwise, I wasn't sure I'd be able to tell them apart.
The scout stepped forward, offering me her now-healed hand. "I'm Lina." I took her hand, and she continued, "The stabby one is Kael, and the rough one is Thane."
I giggled, probably for the first time since I was a toddler, because I knew exactly who she meant from those descriptions. The hand that flew to my mouth was involuntary—but in hindsight, entirely necessary.
Clearing my throat, I said, "It is nice to meet you all," and received a nod from the brothers.
"So, you're from out west?" Lina asked, and I nodded.
"Yes," I said, but wanting to avoid specifics, I asked, "What about all of you?"
"We're all from a small village near Merrywood. We're heading in that direction to celebrate the Catalyst Festival with our families. Saros has a sister who will be participating this year." I nodded along, unsure what they were talking about but not wanting to seem suspicious. When I didn't reply immediately, Lina asked, "How did you end up all the way out here? Did you not travel with friends or family?"
"Oh. No, I was poisoned and kidnapped by pirates. They were going to sell me for a bounty to someone out east. I'm not sure why."
"Wow, really? How did you escape? Are you expecting them to come after you?" The words came out in a rush, but I only shook my head.
"They were all eaten by sea monsters. They had me locked up, and somehow, the creatures missed me. I was lucky."
"That sounds like quite the story!"
I shrugged, "Not really. I don't remember most of it. The poison often kept me unconscious, and I was only awake for a bit during the day, near the end. If there hadn't been another survivor to tell me what happened, I'd have thought we had wrecked on some rocks, and they had abandoned the ship."
A different kind of concern crossed her face, and she asked, "They didn't… do anything to you, did they?"
"No. I doubt that very much. They avoided me as much as they could. I was locked away in a box behind a store room in the galley. The only person who touched me at all was the woman who changed my clothes while I was unconscious. The others wouldn't come near me."
Speaking for the first time, Kael asked, "Why is that? It seems out of character for pirates. Are you from a dangerous family?"
I nodded, "Yes, and I am incredibly dangerous on my own. It was enough."
They all smirked at that, but before they could continue, Saros returned. "I see you are all getting well acquainted. We're going to head out shortly. If you have any last-minute things to take care of in town, it's best to speak now."
When no one spoke up, he nodded, "Alright. Mirela, we'll make space for you on the back of the first wagon. You can stow your things there as well."
I gave a slight bow of my head, "Thank you, Saros."
He let out a bark of laughter, "None of that. You're part of the team until the trip is done. Speaking of which, you should join our party."
I hadn't thought of that. I'd never been in a party before. The other vampires couldn't create or join them. I almost refused on impulse, but decided to give it a try. The invitation brushed the edge of my mind, and I nodded my acceptance.
Without warning, awareness of the others flooded in so suddenly that I nearly fell backward, earning a round of laughter. I could feel them, how healthy they were, how much mana they held, even how tired they felt. There was a vague sense of their strength and a general impression of their classes. I suspected that if they weren't standing right in front of me, I could still tell which direction to walk to reach them. As I took it all in, a pulse of energy rippled outward, and for an instant, each of them flared with a golden aura as it washed over them.
"First party?" Lina asked as I recovered, and I nodded. "Yeah, we all go through that, though. I think my first was with my cousins."
"I grew up alone. This is very interesting. I can sense so much."
However, Saros looked me over with some concern, and I could tell something was off. "Mirela, are you still poisoned? I can tell you're weakened."
I nodded, "Yes, but it will only seriously impair me at night. I am recovering."
"That's interesting, but what's this aura?" Thane asked in a deep, rumbling voice so different from his brothers' that it was hard to believe it came from him. "I thought you didn't have a class, but you feel like you're giving off holy energy. This is some kind of protection, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is. I've always had it. I forgot it would affect others." I let a hint of smugness creep into my tone. "I suppose that makes me even more valuable to the team than expected." I was rewarded with a grin from the others.
As we were talking, I noticed a few workers rearranging some things in one of the wagons. As they finished, David returned to us.
"The wagons are ready. I put the supplies in where we made space. Here is your quest marker. Our agreement is already inlaid. You can leave as soon as you're ready."
The two men shook hands, and Saros motioned toward the wagons, "Alright, team. Let's get going!"
Everyone moved to their places around the caravan with a practiced ease, and I followed Saros to the back of the first wagon. He lowered the tailgate and offered me a hand up. I took it gratefully and hopped into the wagon's bed. When I turned back, I caught the look of surprise on his face.
"You just hopped five feet into the air."
I nodded, "Yes, thank you for the help."
He looked at me for a few seconds before shaking his head. "Alright, then. Well, this case here is for you. If you can find time today while we're traveling, I'd appreciate it if you could work on a few of those potions for us."
I looked at the case skeptically. It wasn't much bigger than my rucksack, but I opened it to find it unfolded into a very compact alchemy workshop. I grinned, "I'd be happy to… Am I allowed to keep this?"
He laughed again, something that seemed to come easy to him. "Yes. You're the only one of us that can use it, but I'd certainly appreciate it if you could get the money's worth out of it with potions."
I hummed thoughtfully, going through the kit. "I do not know the value of healing potions, but I will easily use all of these ingredients before nightfall. I will run out of golden leaf and sylvan berries first. If you keep an eye out, I could make more."
That made his grin brighten, "We'll do our best. You know, Mirela. Your road home is going to take you right through Valoria. Someone at their cathedral will be able to help you with your missing class, I have no doubt."
I thought about that for a moment and then nodded to him. "Thank you for the advice. Hopefully, I will get there before my birthday. I would rather not have a random class."
"I almost forgot about that. So you're seventeen? Well, you still have some time before the festival to figure it out. For now, we'll focus on the trip. Tomorrow will be the most dangerous part of the journey, and then it should be smooth sailing. And do not worry. If things get crazy, we'll keep you safe."
I grinned at him. "This is my first party. I will not mess it up. If things get too crazy, I will keep you all safe."
I grinned at him. "This is my first party. I will not mess it up. If things get too crazy, I will keep you all safe."
With another laugh and a shake of his head, he slapped the back of the wagon twice to signal the driver, then ran around to climb up front. I turned back to my task, sorting and setting up the portable alchemy lab as the wagons rolled into motion.
TO BE CONTINUED...