The Chalice (Luna Vampire Series) (17 page)

             
"Why have the training then?" I blurted.  "If it doesn't help..."

 
             
"All male slaves are prepared so that a select few of us can become guards.  It's the highest honor."

             
Hmm, I felt the proverbial wheels spinning in my head. 
"Let me get this straight, you're telling me that you actually
want
to be a vampire?"

             
For real, I was coming up with a pretty decent plan.
  I knew the power a
maker
had over their
makee
, and, once I changed him, he'd be my ally for life.  He also could fend off the guards during our escape. 
And, if he was into it, well, why not?  I mean, going from a slave to a guard must to be an improvement, right?

             
Lucien beamed.  "Yes, it's been a..."

             
"No, Luna, your body is too fragile," Amelia interrupted, her freckled face filled with unease.  "You've only recently been transformed yourself.  No vampire ever
attempts to share the gift until they've lived at least a decade."  A burgundy glow flourished across her cheeks.   "Beyond that, we don't have the proper facilities.  What if you turn into a black demon, Lucien?"

             
"Oh, quit freaking out.  Since we're fed non-genetically modified foods, the chances of me emerging as a mutation are virtually nonexistent."

             
"It's not worth it..."

             
"Okay, okay, hold on," I grumbled, raising my hands to silence their bickering. "First of all, what in the hell is a black demon?"

             
"Well, it'll take a little explaining," Lucien admitted, grinning and sitting down beside me on the edge of the tub.  "In short, a black demon is a change gone wrong.  To truly understand, you'll have to learn how vampires are made.  It's not the metaphysical, devil worshipping, voodoo you see in the movies."

             
"Yeah, it's genetic modification.  They taught us about it in school," Amelia acknowledged, flopping onto the floor.  "Essentially, vamps feed and their saliva transmits a virus that modifies a human's genetic code to create the blood slave bond.  Then, when the slave ingests the blood of their master, a separate virus is transmitted, further modifying the slave's genetic code into a made vampire."

             
"Huh, so how'd the born vamps get started?  Were they some freak of evolution?"

             
"No, born vampires aren't descended from humans.  They came to earth from a more technologically advanced planet," Lucien explained.  "Their world, Ascetilli, located in our constellation Ophiuchus, underwent a global catastrophe.  I don't exactly recall what."

             
"I think their sun died," Amelia added.  "Anyway, the important thing is that in order to travel through space in
state similar to hibernation, they genetically modified themselves into the race we recognize today as vampires.  When they arrived here, human societies were basically hunter-gatherers and they assimilated into our villages, most leading normal human lives."

             
Lucien wrinkled his nose.  "Well, as normal as they could while managing to cope with the side effects of the modifications.  All too quickly, they discovered their need to feed on human blood, their godlike powers, and their ability to create a sub-race of vampires from humans."

             
"Interesting story and, um, totally not far-fetched," I quipped, raising my eyebrows sarcastically.
  Regardless, whether they were spouting fact or fiction, I was rapidly growing desensitized to the bizarre revelations.  Bloodsucking vampire spawn?  Sure.  Half alien from Ophiuchus?  Whatever, no biggie. 
"So, uh, in other words, you're saying that Tsedaka altered my DNA by first drinking my blood.  Hence, the wounds on my neck and wrists.  After which, he pulled a repeat by forcing me to consume
his blood
from the chalice."

             
"Correct.  Although, do you remember where your transformation occurred, Luna?" Amelia questioned, sitting up a bit straighter.

             
How could I forget?  Sigh.
  "Yeah, they imprisoned me in a dingy cement pit."

             
"And for
good reason
," she warned.  "You might've mutated and that would've endangered everyone at high court."

             
Glaring at her, Lucien shook his head vehemently.  "No, Luna had to be in a secure room because she probably ate genetically modified foods, much the same as all humans.  Nonetheless, my case is different, seeing that Lord Adrian feeds us organic produce which is strictly free of GMOs."

             
"Maybe I'm a tad slow," I admitted.  "But what does a person's diet have to do with becoming a black demon?"

             
"They never existed until ten years ago when genetically modified corn and soybeans came on the market," Lucien explained, adopting a somber tone.  "If humans eat these types of foods within seventy-two hours of the change, it appears to disrupt the process of gene evolution.  I wish I could explain in more detail.  Regrettably, I'm not acquainted with the exact science.  It wasn't my specialty..."

             
"Black demons are horrid creatures," Amelia broke in, pursing her lips and fidgeting uncomfortably.  "They share several characteristics with made vamps, namely strength and their need to avoid the sun.  However, rather than feeding from humans, they require blood from other vampires.  And they attack involuntarily, similar to rabid dogs."

             
God! Tsedaka was such a prick.  I mean, by the sound of it, he'd nearly turned me into a monster.  The deranged cocksucker. 
"So, how big of a risk do you think we'd be taking by changing you," I asked, squinting at Lucien.

             
"A very small one, girlie.  I wouldn't be willing to go forward with it otherwise.  The only realistic downside I can see is that the procedure will weaken you."

             
"Not true," Amelia protested, scowling at Lucien in disappointment.  "Let's say you don't mutate, Luna will still have broken the law.  You know transformations aren't allowed without prior approval of the king."

             
"Screw the king!" I growled.  "That makes me wanna do this shit even more!  Seriously,
dear old daddy's
already gonna be pissed once we split.  What's one more addition to his list?"

             
"I'm not trying to be a downer," she replied, glancing at her hands sheepishly.  "But there's another problem.  One
slave to two vamps simply isn't enough.  On top of that, I'm bonded to you, Luna.  Lucien will have trouble feeding from me.  In theory, if you guys drink at the same time, it should reduce a portion of the ill effects caused by our bond.  That being said, it will assuredly result in small feedings for the both of you."

             
Lucien threw his arm around me.  "We can do it," he urged, squeezing gently.  "If a successful getaway is our primary objective, then changing me is to our advantage.  Besides, I won't help with an escape plan that puts your life in danger, girlie.  Fleeing from high court unprotected is suicide."

             
"I agree, we can't be defenseless," I muttered, steeling my resolve.  "That's why I'm gonna turn you.  I see that there are risks, nevertheless, I believe they're worth the rewards."

             
Amelia leaped forward in desperation, grasping my hand.  "Luna, you mustn't..."

             
"No, I've decided and that's final," I growled, impulsively shrugging her off. 
Some situations called for a voice of reason, but come on!
  "You can either help us or go chill in your room.  Either way, stop the incessant arguing." 

             
Immediately, she nodded in acquiescence.  "I understand.  And I'm sorry, I merely sought to devise a safe plan.  Don't mistake my caution for disobedience, of course, I'll help."

             
"Glad to hear it.  Now, I assume that once Lucien completes his
transformation
he'll have to stay out of sight in the interest of not revealing our hand.  Therefore, your primary responsibility will be to obtain the pass code.  Yet, I also want you to learn the route that'll most efficiently lead us above ground."

             
"As you wish," she agreed, promptly standing and walking toward the bathroom door.  "They brought us into
high court wearing hoods, intending that we'd never orient ourselves with the tunnel system.  So, this will take some work; I should get going."  She paused, briefly peeking back at us.  "Either of you need anything while I'm running errands?"

             
"A clock and the time," I replied curtly.  "Oh, and a television might be nice.  Who knows how long we'll be stuck in here before we get the opportunity to escape."

             
Lucien picked at his torn gown, grimacing in distaste.  "I'd like some actual clothes, instead of this hideous ceremonial dress.  And try to find a couple backpacks for us to carry supplies in.  Above all, avoid retrieving any items that could be mistaken as weapons.  It'll raise suspicion if discovered by the guards." 

             
Amelia agreed and pushed off in a hurry, closing the door behind her and leaving the two of us to stare at each other in a slightly uncomfortable silence.  "Okay," I eventually grunted, clearing my throat and squaring my shoulders.  "How do we do this?"

             
Lucien's thin lips curled upward in surprise.  "You wanna change me, uh,
now
?"

             
"Yeah.  If you're gonna turn into a crazed vampire killer we might as well find out, right?" I scoffed, chuckling at the absurdity of my new reality.

             
"First, you must feed; drain my body almost entirely," he instructed, using his words to project an air of seriousness that abruptly halted my flippant attitude.  "It'll cause me to grow extremely weak.  This means that
once we begin, we must finish, or I'll die
."

             
I cringed, readying myself for a hasty bout of protesting.  "I don't wanna drink your blood.  Can't we drain it in the bathtub or something?  If I heard you correctly, I already gave you the initial virus during the ceremony
yesterday.  So, why feed from you again?  Seems like overkill to me."

             
"You'll need the strength.  And, seeing that your change occurred recently, you won't be as healthy as most vamps are when they bestow the gift.  We can't risk you going into this in any weaker of a state.  Also, you'll require another feeding subsequent to my change.  It may take several days for you to fully recuperate."

             
At a loss, I deliberated on my options for a few moments, weighing the positives and negatives of our little endeavor.  In the end, I finally verbalized my concerns. "I see your point, but how will I know it's time to quit drinking?  What if I accidentally go too far?"

             
He reached over and squeezed my hand warmly.  "No worries, they taught us a method of measuring our blood loss; I'll tell you when to stop.  I promise, we'll both live through this."

             
Recognizing that waiting would only give me an excuse to chicken out, I lifted his wrist to my nose and inhaled deeply.  All the while, his vein throbbed as a tempting invitation.  Fangs protruding, I hesitated for one last second to gaze into his almond-shaped eyes.  In them, I saw trust, respect, and love. 
I prayed this was the right course of action.
 
No going back, if it wasn't
. 

             
As I pierced his soft skin, evoking a flow of delicious energy to tingle across my tongue, I felt myself gaining strength.  And, like before, I perceived his feelings, everything I'd seen in his eyes. 
Trust, respect, love.
 
Not even the barest glimpse of anxiety.
  And my mind whirled at the realization.

             
For real, if I was him, I'd be about to have a heart attack!  Wait a minute, I was about to have a heart attack!  Too many things could go wrong!  What if he died, or he attacked me, or I died!?

             
"Breathe girlie, it's going to be alright," he replied, once again hearing my thoughts.

             
"I know,"
I thought to back him while continuing to guzzle his life away.
"I'm just nervous."

             
"There's no reason to be; we're nearly there," he panted, his voice sounding faint as he leaned his weight onto me for support.

             
"Should I stop now?  You're getting weak."