Chapter Twelve

CHAPTER TWELVE

Lazarus holds out a hand to me, and the Judge sends a notification.

Lazarus would like to awaken your slumbering bloodline. Do you agree to this?

I will my response to the Judge, and my world rocks. It is not pain, exactly; it is more like a river being unleashed in my body. My skin actually writhes, my veins bulge and pulse, and suddenly I am within my Domain.

The river of crimson that normally flows within the nothingness that represents my destruction aspect is swirling into what appears to be a crimson hurricane. The hurricane eventually settles, but the blood has changed. No longer is it simply dark crimson; it has taken on a golden sheen, and now the liquid is red gold.

It still flows through that nothingness, but there is a different feeling to it now—a feeling of hunger, a desire to grow. As I come back to myself, I feel that hunger within me, like a living thing with a will of its own. It pulls at me, demands, and howls to be fed. I push it back for now and address the notification that unfurls in my mind.

Jackson Grey, your bloodline has been awoken, and you have embraced your vampyric nature in full. Your player profile will reflect this change. In addition, your Domain has changed, and thus your class can evolve. There are three options available. Would you like to view these options now and make your choice?

Lazarus seems to look down on me, a knowing twinkle in his eyes.

"Ah, I see by your expression that you have received an interesting message from Eden's Avatar. What does it say, fledgling?"

I raise an eyebrow at being called fledgling but make no comment on it as I reply.

"The message says my class can be evolved. It is asking if I want to view the options and make my choice."

Lazarus coughs, a mean feat given that he is just a spirit.

"You were given options?!" He sounds incredulous.

I nod. "Why is that rare?" I inquire, genuinely curious.

Lazarus chuckles, his fangs gleaming in the dim light. "Rare, he says. It is basically unheard of, young fledgling. Your class and everything you are come from your Domain. When skills get added to your Domain, it is really just the Judge unlocking or awakening an inner part of your untapped potential. A class evolution reflects your Domain on a deeper, more advanced level, but usually there is only one option. For the Judge to perceive multiple options within you, it means that your Domain resonates with all of them on an equal level. If I were a dusty, boring scholar, I would find that fascinating. I suggest you go over the options with me; you will not find anyone that can give you better advice than I can."

I shake my head at Lazarus's tone but will an affirmative to the Judge. Another message unfurls in my mind.

Here are your class options and the following skills they grant you:

Vampyre Swordsman (Apprentice Level 1): The vampyre swordsman uses blood and destruction aspects to enhance his sword combat, often becoming so powerful he can cut down an army with a single slash. Skills granted: Minor Regeneration (Basic Level 1): This skill allows you to regenerate health and therefore wounds at a very slow rate. This can be increased by consuming blood. Sword Skill (Basic Level 1): This skill grants you the ability to use any sword effectively. The higher the skill level and rank, the deadlier the swordsman. Consume Blood (Basic Level 1): A required skill for any vampyre, this skill must be used daily. The longer the vampyre goes without using it, the likelier it is that he will go mad and die. This skill accelerates minor regeneration and, in addition, restores mana and strengthens your domain. Warning: completely draining any player with this skill will result in their final death.

Vampyre Shifter (Apprentice Level 1): The vampyre shifter uses his blood and destruction aspects to transform himself into a terrifying winged and batlike form. In this form, you are a physical powerhouse, leaving swaths of destruction in your wake. Skills granted: Shifting (Basic Level 1): This skill governs shapeshifting, but due to your vampyric nature, it is locked into the Vampyre Combat Form. Consume Blood (Basic Level 1): A required skill for any vampyre, this skill must be used daily. The longer the vampyre goes without using it, the likelier it is that he will go mad and die. This skill accelerates minor regeneration and, in addition, restores mana and strengthens your Domain. Warning: completely draining any player with this skill will result in their final death. Minor Regeneration (Basic Level 1): This skill allows you to regenerate health and therefore wounds at a very slow rate. This can be increased by consuming blood.

Vampyre Acolyte (Apprentice Level 1): The vampyre acolyte forgoes all physical weapons and abilities in favor of focusing on mastering the weaves of mana that come from Domains. Vampyre acolytes are therefore unable to use any physical weapons or even weave physical weapons. Any weapon-based skills you have upon taking this class will vanish. Instead, you will gain the following skills and weaves: Hidden Bloodline (Basic Level 1): The hidden bloodline skill will hide your vampyric nature from all; even celestials must use their most powerful means of discernment to uncover your bloodline. Minor Regeneration (Basic Level 1): This skill allows you to regenerate health and therefore wounds at a very slow rate. This can be increased by consuming blood. Consume Blood (Basic Level 1): A required skill for any vampyre, this skill must be used daily. The longer the vampyre goes without using it, the likelier it is that he will go mad and die. This skill accelerates minor regeneration and, in addition, restores mana and strengthens your Domain. Warning: completely draining any player with this skill will result in their final death. Blood Lightning (Basic Level 1): This weave will allow you to weave together your blood and destruction aspects into a powerful bolt of lightning that will pierce and destroy most defenses, magical or otherwise.

I stare at the choices, taking them in. The newly transformed river in my Domain seems to pulse with excitement at the possibilities. All of them are clearly better than my current class, by miles, in my estimation. I go over them with Lazarus, and the ancient spirit cannot keep from looking slightly impressed either.

"I am familiar with these classes; however, I am genuinely shocked that you resonate with all of them. If you pick the swordsman class, you will keep the progress you have made with that katana of yours, and it will be the most familiar for you."

Lazarus taps his chin, clearly thinking. Before I can reply, he shakes his head, his eyes closing briefly.

"Alas, you should not pick it. I am afraid you must pick the acolyte."

"What! That is the one I least want to pick!" I protest, slapping my knee with my good arm. The thought of giving up my katana skill—the one ability that has kept me alive so far—makes my heart sink.

Lazarus crosses his arms and looks down on me, clearly taking the tone of a parent dealing with a child throwing a tantrum.

"No need to shout. You can express your thoughts without throwing a tantrum, yes? I assume you are old enough to understand this." He regards me, lips pursed in disappointment.

I feel heat flood my face, and I bow my head. His patronizing tone is irritating, but there is wisdom in his words.

"You are right. I would like to hear your reasoning, though."

Lazarus nods, mollified. "You need to pick it because of the hidden bloodline skill, obviously. Use your head, fledgling. I just told you not even five minutes ago that becoming a vampyre would make you a target for celestials everywhere. With this class, you will remain hidden from their sight, and that gives you a fighting chance to prepare and advance."

I sigh; I do not want to admit it, but the spirit is probably right. With the other classes, I am not hidden, and I would be vulnerable to most analyze attempts. It just seems a little unfair that I would have to give up my katana skills. I express this to Lazarus and then add,

"Why cannot this skill be available in the other classes? Did not you just say that granted skills are already a part of me?"

Lazarus unfolds his arms and looks at the ceiling, as if ready to give up.

"The skills best represent the class, and the class best represents the skill; it is a kind of synergy. I believe I have already explained this. I cannot say why that skill is best represented by that class; that is the Judge's decision. Perhaps it is because of the focus this class has on weaving. Regardless of the reason, it is what it is; what are you going to do? Deny reality." Lazarus snorts.

My shoulders slump, and I let out a giant sigh. I really hate to admit it, but the spirit is correct, and I cannot deny it. I eye the class description. As I do, a grudging thought occurs to me. I am not very good with the katana anyway. I must have voiced my thoughts, because Lazarus asks,

"What do you mean by that?"

I explain my duel with Dylan and what he said about me not being one with the blade. Lazarus asks me some pointed questions, and the whole tale comes out, including how easy it was for him to defeat me. When I am done, Lazarus bows his head and mutters to himself. Finally, he shakes his head.

"It seems you have had quite the experience so far, fledgling. In regards to the katana skill, it sounds like it is a flawed skill."

I am about to ask what that means, but Lazarus holds up a hand, cutting me off.

"Yes, yes, I know you do not know what that means. I will explain; it appears I will be doing a lot of that in the future. Sometimes our Domains resonate powerfully with a single skill, despite the fact that we are not actually suited for it. This can be for any number of reasons, such as a deep dream of ours or a strong belief that we should be good at that particular skill. Regardless of the reason, these skills resonate when they should not. It leads many down a broken advancement path, close to perfect but inherently flawed. So often, in fact, they strive to perfect the skill and never can. That is your katana skill."

I take the information in, not even sure how to respond. My path has been flawed from the start. I do not want it to be. The katana was a weapon that gave me certainty; by being armed with it and by moving with it, I did not feel weak.

But perhaps this is why the crimson river in my Domain always seemed more responsive to my blood shard bombs than my katana. Perhaps it has been trying to tell me something all along.

I bite my lip and suck in a frustrated breath through my nose. Sometimes the things we want are not right for us. Understanding this, I make my decision, and the Judge sends a message into my mind.

Class evolution is commencing. Purging katana skill… Congratulations, Jackson! You are now a Vampyre Acolyte!

I feel knowledge erase itself from my mind, as if someone has taken a mental eraser and scrubbed it away. New knowledge replaces the old, blazing through familiar paths in my mind, causing me to clench at my head as I hiss in pain.

The skills and weaves are all there as if I have known them my entire life. I just wish it would have gotten rid of the pain in my arm. Instead, all I have to show for all of this is a newfound feeling of intense hunger. Pushing it aside with a practiced mental shove, I look over at Lazarus.

"Well, now that is done. What now?" I ask the ancient spirit.

Lazarus shrugs, his ethereal form shimmering slightly in the dim light. "I do have a request for you, but before we get to that, why do not you tell me what has happened to you other than the encounter with Dylan and the demon? Start at the beginning."

I hesitate; I am still not entirely certain I can trust Lazarus. Sure, he has been helpful so far, but I highly doubt he does not have his own agenda. That does not change the fact that he has been supportive, and my journey up until this point is not a great secret.

Other than my newly awakened vampyric bloodline, I do not exactly have anything worth hiding. Why not tell the spirit everything? I wrack my brain, trying to come up with one reason beyond not being fully sure I can trust him, and come up short. At some point, I have to trust somebody, and Lazarus is at least being more helpful than Melanie had been.

I feel a sharp stab of guilt when her name crosses my mind. Adaran's shocked face as my blood shards tore through his throat flashes in my memory. I push that away as well. I need to focus on the present, on survival.

Coming to a conclusion, I take a deep breath and tell Lazarus everything—from waking up in the crypt without memories, to my first death at the rat's jaws, to meeting Fred, to killing the demon and Adaran's subsequent death, to solving the puzzle and finding this tomb.

Lazarus listens intently, his ethereal form occasionally shifting as if he is considering what I tell him. When I finish, he nods slowly.

"Quite the journey, fledgling. And now I believe I can tell you what I need from you."

His red eyes gleam with an intensity that is both fascinating and unsettling. "In the Blood Sands, there is a sealed coven of my kind. They have been there for centuries, locked in Blood Sleep. I want you to find them and wake them."

I raise an eyebrow, skeptical. "And why would I do that?"

Lazarus smiles, showing his fangs. "Because fledgling, you are going to need a proper teacher. I can only do so much as a skull. And with celestials like Abaddon lurking about, you will need allies of your kind. Besides," his voice drops to an almost seductive whisper, "do you not want to know who you truly are? My coven has ways of recovering lost memories."

That gets my attention. My lost past—the opportunity to discover who I was before waking in this place...

As I consider his request, I feel a new sensation from my arm. The pain is... lessening? I look down to see the bone that had been jutting out from my skin slowly receding back into place. The torn flesh begins to knit itself together at a visible, if slow, rate.

You have used Minor Regeneration (Basic Level 1). Your wound is beginning to heal.

Lazarus nods approvingly. "Ah, your regeneration is working. That is good. It will still take time to fully heal, but now you can at least function. Be warned, though—the hunger will only grow stronger. You will need to consume blood soon."

I stare at my arm in fascination as it continues to slowly heal. The newly transformed river in my Domain flows with renewed vigor, and for the first time since the rat killed me, I feel a sense of possibility. Perhaps becoming a vampyre was not such a bad choice after all.

Now I just need to learn how to control it.