Chapter 200: B - Blood Rage
"Now that the Monster Slayers are combing through the back alleys on the outskirts of the city, searching for the mysterious vampire who's been beheading his victims, your time is running out, Axel Lustsilk," Frank Pyton declares in a pompous tone. "You've got potential, kid — trust me, my sixth sense has never been wrong. I'm not a vampire, but over a life much longer than I look, I've met hundreds of them and studied their abilities. Since I'm not a vampire, all that knowledge is useless to me... but for you, it could be a gold mine."
We're standing in the garden of his massive mansion outside New York as I listen to him, completely captivated by his words.
Why did I follow Frank all the way here even though I can't stand him?
Simple. He told me he'd teach me how to fully master my vampire powers, so I agreed almost without a second thought.
Still, that asshole may be a complete bastard, but he's not stupid.
He'd never dig his own grave by making me strong enough to kill him, especially not without getting something in return.
He's definitely plotting something, but as long as he's useful to me, I'm going to squeeze every last drop out of him.
He starts explaining an energy called Sanguis, which is produced by my heart and flows through my veins, allowing me to manipulate my blood.
Things only get interesting when he starts explaining how to use that power to its fullest.
He calls it Blood Rage — a unique ability possessed only by certain vampires with a specific bloodline, one that lets them become far stronger.
Frank is convinced I'm one of the vampires who can use it, though I honestly have no idea how he can be so sure.
Then again, he definitely knows more about this stuff than I do, so I don't have much choice but to trust him.
Anyway, mastering Blood Rage takes a lot of training and much better control over my blood, so that'll have to wait.
The thought of becoming that much stronger gets me so fired up that I don't waste a single second before throwing myself into Sanguis control training under Frank's watchful eye.
Still, I can't figure out why he's doing all this.
He wants to turn me into a vampire strong enough to fight the Monster Slayers... and then what?
I just can't see what he gets out of it.
I've asked him more than once, but his answers are always vague.
"We're both beings from another world. If we don't help each other, who will?"
Honestly, I don't believe a guy like him is capable of being that selfless.
It's obvious he'll try to blackmail me sooner or later.
And there's only one way he could pull that off — by going after the people I care about.
If he ever dragged Veronica or Naomi into this to force me onto his side... that'll be the moment he regrets teaching me all of this.
It's already four in the morning, and I'm still stuck in the middle of this brutal training session when someone... or something... approaches Frank.
An unnaturally tall man with skin as black as pitch.
His irises are completely white, just like his long hair.
Long, pointed ears stick out from beneath the hood of his dark green cloak embroidered with gold.
But the most shocking thing isn't his obviously otherworldly appearance.
It's the way he showed up.
He didn't come through the front gate like any normal person would.
A moment ago, that guy was a tree.
Yeah... a fucking tree.
Out of nowhere, it started swaying as if caught in a violent storm, then twisted and warped until it took the shape of that strange being.
«Non ci si vede da tanto, eh, Oktavian?» mormora l'uomo incappucciato, rivolgendosi a Frank.
What the fuck is going on now?! And who the hell is Oktavian?
Wait... so Frank Pyton isn't his real name?
Just how much is that guy hiding from me?
"I've told you a thousand times not to call me that, especially when we're not alone," Frank says coldly.
The hooded figure shrugs, pretending to feel sorry.
"Oh, so Axel doesn't know anything? Since you're personally teaching him how to control Sanguis instead of leaving him to one of the vampires under your command, I assumed he already knew everything. I guess I'll have to keep my mouth shut then — just pretend I didn't say anything," he adds, shooting me a mocking look that sends a chill down my spine.
What the fuck am I supposed to know?! And how does this guy even know my name?!
Fuck... I'm really starting not to like where this is going.
For now, though, I'd better stay out of it and let the two of them handle it.
I'll save my questions for after the tree guy is gone.
"Eshkari Xhiktar... a visit from you is a rare occasion — thankfully. So, what do I owe the displeasure?" Frank asks, clearly annoyed.
"Just a simple request for information from... uh, Him. He wanted to know if you've managed to dig up anything useful about the hybrid or the whereabouts of those objects... or if you've just been busy playing gangster. That's all."
Just as I expected, Frank doesn't take those words well.
Being described as someone who's just playing gangster isn't exactly flattering for the most powerful crime boss in New York.
"Tell Him there's nothing new on either front."
"Ah... I'm afraid He won't be happy with that answer at all..." Eshkari sighs, shaking his head in disapproval. "Well, then you should expect a visit from Him soon. I know because He paid me one not too long ago, and trust me, it wasn't pleasant. I only came to warn you — consider it a gesture of friendship. Anyway, take care, Oktavian. And good luck... you're going to need it."
"On the other hand, I hope I never see you again, you damn dark elf," Frank growls, barely hiding his irritation.
A moment later, the hooded man transforms back into a tree, its roots sinking into the ground exactly where he had been standing just seconds earlier.
The moment we're alone again, a flood of questions rushes to the tip of my tongue, ready to come pouring out at Frank all at once.
But the sudden explosion of rage with which he obliterates the massive tree that, just moments ago, was that dark elf tells me it's probably best not to bring it up.