The Dirty Affairs of a Vampire and His Horny Stepmom-Chapter 32: Damn, this situation is starting to worry me...
«Blood Manipulation: Spike Bullet!»
A thick spike of blood bursts from the palm of my hand and shoots toward a large tree about twenty meters away, in the enormous garden — actually, no, in the real private park — surrounding John Hardley’s villa.
Watching that spike streak across my vision pumps me up like crazy — damn it, I really look like I just stepped out of an anime! But the excitement doesn’t last long: the projectile liquefies halfway there, splashing the grass red, without a single drop even reaching the tree trunk.
«For it being only your fourth lesson, I have to say you’re making incredible progress,» John comments with satisfaction. «I thought it would take at least ten sessions before you managed to cast Spike Bullet properly. Instead, there’s a good chance you’ll already pull it off next time. Truly impressive — my sixth sense wasn’t wrong about you.»
I still don’t understand his sudden generosity, but whatever his objective is, he’s achieved it without a doubt.
Yes, in the last two weeks this is already the fourth time I’ve come here. But honestly, I don’t have many alternatives: my absolute priority right now is learning to master Sanguis — the power contained in vampire blood.
And as if that weren’t incentive enough, at the end of every lesson John lets me drink all the blood I want, still warm, taken directly from his rival criminals, captured and handed over to me like slaughtered meat.
It pains me to admit it, but this whole situation is working out rather well for me. Hunting in the alleys of New York has become too dangerous now that the Monster Slayers know my hunting grounds, and after that night in Cold Spring — after seeing the hope-filled smile of that child waiting for a father who would never come back — I swore to myself I would never again kill innocent people.
What once seemed like a desperate situation, John’s unexpected intervention has temporarily solved. In fact, not only can I satisfy all my blood needs without lifting a finger, I’m feeding far more than I ever have in my life. One hearty meal every two weeks would be more than enough, and yet with what I’m about to drink shortly, I’ll already have had four in just two weeks.
I’ve never felt this strong in my entire life. Strength and vitality flow through me like never before — I feel like I could tear the world apart!
It’s already four in the morning, and I’m still in the middle of this exhausting training session when a man — or at least, something that looks like a man — approaches John.
He wears a long dark green cloak embroidered with gold, something that looks more like a stage costume stolen from a B-grade medieval movie.
But his appearance is what truly stands out.
Abnormally tall, skin black as pitch — darker than the night itself — he’s so shrouded in shadow that even with my vampire eyes I have to strain to make out his features beneath the hood. His irises are completely white, just like his long hair, and his ears are longer and sharper than any human’s.
And yet, the most shocking thing is how he reached us.
He didn’t come down the main driveway from the gate. No... until a moment earlier, that guy was a tree. A fucking tree from a small grove nearby that, for no apparent reason, began to sway violently as if shaken by a furious wind, then warped and twisted until it took the shape of that being.
«You’ve found yourself a new toy, huh, Vadhim?» the hooded man sneers, addressing John. «Mmh... I must admit, this time you picked one of truly remarkable beauty — I’m glad you’ve finally started following my advice.»
What the fuck is happening now?! Toy... remarkable beauty...? Oh shit... maybe the suspicion that deep down John just wanted my cock doesn’t sound so absurd anymore! But above all... what the fuck did he call him? Vadhim?
So John Hardley isn’t his real name. In hindsight, that seems obvious, considering John is a demon who used magic to assume human form — of course he isn’t really called John. I mean, can you imagine a demon named John? That would be ridiculous.
«I’ve told you a thousand times not to call me that, especially when we’re not alone,» John scolds him coldly, shooting him a cutting glare.
The hooded figure shrugs, feigning regret.
«Oh, so this brat knows nothing? Since you’re taking the trouble to personally teach him to manipulate Sanguis instead of simply entrusting him to one of the vampires in your service, I thought he already knew everything. I suppose I’ll keep quiet as a fish then — just pretend I didn’t say anything,» he adds, shooting me a mocking glance that makes my blood freeze in my veins.
What the fuck am I supposed to know?! Damn it... this situation is really starting to worry me. For now, though, it’s better not to butt in and let the two of them deal with it — I’ll save my questions for after that tree-man leaves.
«A visit from you is a rare event — fortunately, I’d add. What do I owe the displeasure?» John asks, annoyed.
«Just a simple request for information on behalf of... uh, on His behalf. He wanted to know whether, in these last two years, you’ve managed to gather any useful information on N.’s reincarnation, or if you’ve merely limited yourself to playing at being an American gangster. That’s all,» the hooded one replies in a mocking tone.
As expected, John doesn’t take those words very well — being described as someone who plays at being a gangster can’t be flattering for the most powerful boss in New York.
«The one we’re looking for is three or four years old at most right now — how the hell does He expect me to know where he’s hiding?! Until he starts developing his powers, it’s useless to even look for him — he’d be practically indistinguishable from a normal human child!»
«Ah... I’m afraid He won’t be happy with that answer...» the hooded one sighs, shaking his head in disapproval. «Well, expect a visit from Him soon, then. I know because He paid one to me not too long ago, and believe me, it wasn’t pleasant at all. I came here only to warn you — take it as a sign of my friendship. That said, see you soon, Vadhim.»
«I, on the other hand, hope I never see you again, damned dark elf,» John growls, thoroughly irritated.
A moment later, the hooded man turns back into a tree, roots sinking into the ground right where he’d been standing seconds earlier.
Needless to say, a flood of questions hovers at the edge of my tongue, ready to spill all over John like a raging river, but the sudden explosion of rage with which he smashes the enormous tree that until moments ago was that dark elf makes one thing clear: it’s definitely better not to meddle in matters that don’t concern me — and above all, to stay the hell away from them.
