Thirteenth floor
The Thirst
Len placed me on a couch. He then went to get me a cup of water.
I drank the water and became conscious of how plain and dry it was compared to what I had had a minute ago.
“Alice, I am so sorry.” Len sat down beside me. “I never thought it would turn out like this. I should have never brought you here.”
“Is it true?” I asked.
I wanted to know if it was true everything Demonia had said. To stay with Len, I had to become a blood soul and this was the only way out because Len would never be allowed to go back with me.
“I don’t know.” Len sighed. “We can escape. No matter what, I am going to bring you home safe.”
“Why don’t…you just bite me?” I said. At that very moment, I had nothing in my mind. I was still a bit shocked from the previous events. However, I knew what I was doing. I had no family to depend on. Having been an orphan for so long, the only person who cared for me was Winnie. I understood her too well. She would never object to my choice if I found the person I could really rely on. Being left out and isolated at school, being deceived, mocked and continuously teased by others, being cheated on by Edmond…all had made me quite frustrated. To think more deeply, I had never had any ambitions in life. All along, what I kept to myself was the fact that I wanted to be noticed, to be cared for and to be loved. After meeting Len, I could see this wish was not at all impossible. If there was a world where eternal love existed and I could escape from reality, I would never mind spending the rest of my life as a blood soul.
“You’re wrong, Alice.” Len shook his head. “I won’t do it.”
“If it’s about the pain…”
“It’s not about the pain.” Len said. “It’s that you aren’t supposed to be one when you weren’t born that way.”
“But even Edmond…”
“Viktoria is wrong. It’s basic moral.” Len said. “We cannot deprive the most precious thing from an individual for our own sake.”
“The most precious thing to me is you.”
“No, it’s your life, Alice. You cannot do it for me.”
“I do it for my own sake too.” I said. “I don’t want to be a human being. I am tired of it. If I were a blood soul, you wouldn’t have to protect me anymore because I would have the ability to fight and…”
“Alice, if I let myself bite you, I will regret for the rest of my life. I would never forgive myself for ever hurting you.”
At that point, someone knocked on the door and burst in. It was Jim. He looked dazed and was panting.
“Bad news, Lucard.” Jim was still out of breath. He slammed the door shut and locked it.
“What’s wrong, Jaymes?” Len stood up.
“They have come.” Jim said, his face turning pale. “The twins and Zander are here, in the hall.”
“And?”
“And they have brought along with lots of Morlettes. Most of the guests have been captured.”
Just then, the sounds of scattering glass and screams could be heard from outside.
“Your brothers have tricked your father. He’s fallen into Morlette’s trap and is imprisoned by them.”
“What?” Len exclaimed. “It can’t be true!”
“It is so. Your brothers have finally got their revenge. They have captured all of us. Bess and Roy are nowhere to be seen. I hope they have escaped just in time.”
“Where have you been?” Len asked.
“I was in the longue room all this time.” Jim answered. “Bess and Roy asked me to wait there for them but they never came back. I heard noises and when I got out, everyone was fighting.”
“Len, what should we do now?” I asked.
“Alice, lie down, you are not feeling well.” Len said.
“I am alright now.”
“Where is George?”
Sadness appeared on Jim’s face as he said. “He protected me so that I could come to see you.”
“They are coming in any minutes.” Jim urged. “Carmine wants to kill you and takes over the throne. After that, he can completely join line with the Morlettes and changes the whole Morganthe family. We have to hurry.”
Len stole a glance from me and then turned back to Jim.
“Assist me, Jaymes.” Len commanded and lifted me up again. “We will have to leave this place at once.”
Jim nodded. Someone banged on the door.
Without dithering, Len jumped out of the window with me in his arms. Jim followed. It was an utter mess out there. Figures could be seen battling each other and there was blood everywhere. We landed on a branch of a tree.
“Lucard, where are we going?” Jim asked.
“There is only one place to hide.” Len said as he carried on leaping from tree to tree.
Someone must have seen us because shadows chased after us.
“Oh no, it’s Viktoria.” Jim shrieked from behind.
Len did not turn back. Instead, he whistled. After a few moments, several bats flew past us.
“Help me, my friend.” Len guided them to fly towards the dark figures at the back.
“That won’t do the attack, Lucard!” Viktoria howled. “Stupid pets of yours.”
“Well, deal with them first, Viktoria!” Len shouted and we ran on with the highest speed.
I could not see anything because it was so dark out here and Len was moving too fast. I could only hear sounds. In a fleeting moment, something grabbed my wrists and I cried in agony. I was no longer in Len’s arms. I fell into the air, hitting the ground straight ahead.
I moaned as I felt my ankle twisted. I could not move myself.
Someone stood in front of me, looking down at me. In the dim light, I could see Edmond’s face.
“Edmond?” I scowled.
“It’s Emmit.” Edmond corrected. Neglecting my broken leg, he seized my arm and chucked me against a tree. I screamed.
Jim got me just in time before my head hit the wood.
Len gave Edmond a powerful kick which sent him flying backwards. Edmond did not see Len come again and was punched by him. Blood spewed from his mouth.
Edmond began to fight back. Now that he had become a blood soul, he was much stronger than before. The two struggled and fought in the middle of the forest.
“Are you alright, Alice?” Jim asked though he could clearly tell I was hurt. Careful not to hurt my leg, he placed me down under a tree and joined Len.
I thought I was safe for a few seconds but I was wrong. Viktoria caught up with us pretty soon. Len sensed her presence and stopped fighting Edmond. He dashed forwards to protect me.
Edmond leapt into the air suddenly and flew to Viktoria’s side. Jim returned to us.
“They will arrive in any seconds.” Viktoria shouted. “After they tackle mother, they are after you, Lucard.”
“How can you betray mother?” Len shook his head. “She almost runs into trouble to save you every time.”
“Lucard, I do not feel anything for that woman.” Viktoria said cruelly. “You know our parents are too wrong about their kids. We just aren’t materials to be the good people and stay under their control forever. We are born to succeed and to strive for the best. The best is when you conquer everything and make others bow to you because of the power you have.”
“This is incorrigible!” Len said. “The rule of the Morganthes is to gain acceptance from others for whom we are but not to force others to obey us!”
“That’s why you are the first to be destroyed!” Viktoria laughed. “You are too much a Morganthe. I never agree a single thing about Morganthes. I would rather stick to the wild, ferocious life than one without freedom. The Morlettes can satisfy my every need, unlike father and mother. If anyone is to blame for their children’s disloyalty, it’s them who have taught such sons and daughters that go against them.”
Viktoria jumped down from the tree and aimed at Len but Jim rushed forward and fought her.
“Run, Lucard!” Len
hesitated a bit but started to move. “Hold on tight.” He said. He held me up and I had my hands around his neck.
Edmond chased after us. Once or twice, Len was almost knocked down by him but he managed to dodge from his attack. Eventually, Len pulled out a small dagger from under his shirt and hurled it straight at Edmond. Edmond broke it into pieces but that seemed to keep him away for sometimes.
We crossed over the river because I could smell the strong scent of water and heard the sounds of waterfall. We headed to another forest. The night seemed long to me. Jim caught up with us soon and that meant Viktoria was back chasing us.
Viktoria tried to fly something at us but Jim blocked it. She tried again. It must have originally aimed at Len because I saw it coming to Len’s back. It was something extremely bright and silver in color. It was a dart.
I knew there was no way out. I could never be fast enough to tell Len and Jim was about a mile away this time. Still, I got to try.
I pushed Len and shrieked. “Move!” Len, who did not expect my smack, turned away instantly. Whatever Viktoria had throw missed Len’s back and went straight through my shoulder. Everything seemed to stop at that very moment. Viktoria and Edmond had stopped, so did Jim and Len.
It was a miracle I did not happen to cry or scream. I was too calm for my situation because blood was running down my arm, staining my dress badly. I felt the heat around my wound. Blood was racing in the veins and my heart was thumping against my chest. I breathed hard.
Len stared at my wound and then turned to Viktoria angrily.
Viktoria, standing not far away, laughed and then vanished with Edmond.
“It’s a poisonous strike.” Viktoria’s voice echoed in the woods. “If you want to save her, turn yourself in.”
What happened next I could not remember, for I fainted afterwards.
When I woke again, my left shoulder ached. It felt as though hundreds of arrows had struck me there. I had difficulties getting up. The first thing I saw was a white ceiling and a heavy smell of blood.
“Alice!” Jim helped me up. “How are you feeling?”
“Pain…” I muttered. Even when I talked, my body was in acute pain.
“It’ll be alright.” Jim comforted. “We are safe for a moment.”
“Where are we?”
“We are in Mrs. Kittel’s house. She was Len’s nanny and a servant in the Grimmel’s family.”
My frown must have suggested I could not understand a single thing Jim said so he stopped.
“Len has gone out to get you some food and water…”
I turned around and saw a large container on the table. Lots of bandages stained with blood were still in there. Those must have come from my wounds. It was my blood…
I was desperate to get off the bed though I did not know why. I had a strange feeling. It was a feeling of yearning for something badly and unable to possess it. It was a feeling as if I could not get what I wanted, I would lose my control. It…was thirst.
“Stop it, Alice.” Jim held me before I slipped. “You must stay in bed. We will soon find you the antidote. Mr. Kittle knows where it might be. The Grimmels are good at making antidotes. We can…”
I did not listen to what Jim said because I was too thirsty to do so. I needed it. I wanted it. I had to have it.
“What? What do you want, Alice?” Jim asked, bringing me back to the bed.
“B…” I stammered. “Blood…”
“What?” Jim held back. “What did you just say?”
Didn’t he hear me?
“I want BLOOD!” I screamed as streams of tears rolled down my face.
“Why? Alice!”
I was jumping out of bed again, totally ignoring the pain. My broken leg could not support my weight so I fell again. Jim went to help me up but I slapped his hand. I crawled forward. There was something much more painful than the wounds. I was thirsting for blood frantically. I knew I needed it.
“Alice, you are scaring me.” Jim began shaking me. “Did you hit your head? Or are you out of your mind? Alice, your face is turning white!”
“Blood! Blood! Blood!” I screamed and bit Jim.
Jim cried. At first he tried to push me away but then he realized a push from him could have broken my neck. He backed away from me but I held on to him.
I did not exactly feel my fangs because I was sure I had none at that moment. Yet, I wanted blood so I had to bite even if I was not a blood soul.
I felt Jim’s blood in my mouth. I was draining more and more of his blood from his arteries. Only until the odd feeling disappeared and the only pain came from my injuries did I stop.
Jim was astonished. He held his hand and stared at me. I was glaring at the mark I left on his hand. Gradually, the wound got smaller and healed on its own, but I knew Jim was still in much pain.
“I…” I began shaking my head. I felt confused. “Jim, what have I done?”
I sobbed. Jim was as bewildered as me. He, who had been bit by me accidentally and me, who had bit and drank someone’s blood, were glancing at each other like strangers.
“Alice, why…did you do that?” Jim asked.
“I… don’t know.”
Slowly, Jim got to his feet and helped me into bed again.
“You just drank my blood.” Jim was then scared. “You just drank my blood…”
Jim looked helpless as he sat on the bedside.
“Oh geez, you are…”
“Will I…turn into a blood soul?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I don’t know.” Jim repeated the words continuously.
“Lucard is going to kill me.” He buried his face in his arms and wept. “He’s going to kill me…”
“Why? Why?”
“Because!” Jim gazed at me, his face washed with tears. “You bit me and you drank my blood. Nobody knows what can happen! You might turn into one of us and if you do….if you do…”
Jim whimpered. “Lucard is never going to forgive me. Oh, what should I do?”
“But…” I tried to think of something to say. “I drank blood in the banquet too. If I did turn into a blood soul, I would have done long time ago.”
“Really?” Jim’s face brightened. “Is it true?”
I nodded.
“Well…” Jim wiped away his tears and smiled. “Lucard will not blame me for that then. Thank goodness.”
“But why would I thirst for blood?” I asked.
Jim looked at me suspiciously. After studying my face, he said. “You look a lot better now. Before, your face is so pale like a dead, but now, your cheeks are burning red.”
“What does that have to mean?”
“It means…” Jim scowled. “The blood keeps you alive…”
Len entered the room. Immediately, the food he was holding dropped to the ground. We turned in shock to face him.
“What did you just say, Jaymes?” Len approached us.
“Listen, Lucard…” Jim stood up fearfully. “I didn’t mean to…I…”
“What did you do to her?” Len shouted and grabbed Jim’s collars. “What did you do to Alice?”
“He did nothing, Len!” I said, crying. “I bit Jim. I drank his blood. I don’t know why I did that, Len. I just thirsted for blood all of sudden and before I knew it, I have bitten Jim…”
Len let go of Jim’s shirt. From the way he looked, we could tell he was thunderstruck and crestfallen.
“I am sorry, Lucard.” Jim said.
“It’s okay.” Len said calmly. “I thought you bit her but it seems like the opposite has happened.”
“Wait.” Len left the room. Jim tried to follow but Len asked him to look after me.
After sometimes, Len came back with a young woman of twenties. She had dark brown hair tied in two plaits and was wearing a maid uniform.
“This is Ms. Kittel.” Len introduced. “She was my nanny when I was small.”
“Call me Oma.” The woman smiled and closed the door.
“Lucard, can I
take a closer look at the girl?” Oma requested.
“Yes, sure.” Oma stepped forward and examined me. Her large blue eyes scanned over my face.
“Crimson hair.” She examined my hair. “Hazel eyes… And the face.”
“Oma, what’s the matter with her?” Len asked. “She should be a human but she just bit Jaymes for his blood.”
Oma closed her eyes and placed my hands in hers.
“What’s she doing?” I asked.
“Oma is gifted with the sixth sense, a very few kind in the race.” Len went on. “She can tell what is wrong with you.”
Oma opened her eyes and stared straight at mine. “Dear, I do not think this girl you have brought along is a human.”
Len and Jim looked so surprised as though the sky had collapsed.
“What? Is it because she’s drank Jaymes’ blood? Or is it because she’s drank the blood in the banquet?” Len began firing all kinds of questions at Oma, who looked perfectly peaceful.
“No.” Oma shook her head. “She’s a blood soul all along. We just don’t realize that.”
“It can’t be!” Jim exclaimed. “She is a human! We met her in the human world!”
“She was.” Oma clarified. “Once but not now.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“It’s odd.” Oma said. “You grew up in a human world but you are never a human. You are a blood soul. Your instincts as a blood soul are all hidden because you have never used them or learnt of them. That’s why you have not gained any super powers. When you drank the blood, the deepest part of your soul must have woken. That explained why you thirsted for blood. When you are a blood soul, once you take a sip of blood, you never stop. Normal humans cannot stand our blood. The moment they drink it, they faint but you did not, did you?”
“No, she didn’t.” Len answered for me.
“But that is impossible.” I said. “I never…”
“That’s the question.” Oma said. “I think I know where you are from.”
Oma said she would help search my family for me, to see if any groups had a lost daughter but I was still too shocked to accept everything she had said. Oma left soon and there were only the three of us in the room.
My shoulder seemed not to hurt as much as before.
“Len, is it true?” I asked.
“I…don’t know.” Len was as uncertain as me. “But I knew from the very beginning you are different. You smell between a human and one of our kinds but I never expect you are actually one of us.”
“If I am a blood soul, does that mean my parents are one too?” I asked.
“It would only make sense that they are.” Jim said.
“But you are an orphan.” Len said. “Where did your parents go? Why would they leave you in a human world?”
“I want to know too.”
“Well, Alice, does it still hurt?” Len asked, looking at my shoulder.
“Not really right now.”
“It is true then.” Len said. “Your wounds heal automatically if you are a blood soul. After you drank Jaymes’ blood, you must feel a lot stronger.”
“But I am not.” Jim said and we both laughed.
“What’s our plan?” Jim asked.
“We’ll see.” Len said thoughtfully. “I have to go back if there aren’t any antidotes for Alice. Only they know how to save her.”
“You will fall right into the trap if you go back!” Jim said.
“I have no choice!” Len reminded him. “Alice has to be saved. She cannot die. After all, I am the one who’s supposed to be struck.”
“Len, don’t go back.” I said.
“It will be alright.” He said. “My brothers will not kill me yet.”
“What do you think of getting some help?” Jim asked.
“Oma is going to inform the Grimmels. I hope they will help us.”
“Grimmels?” I asked.
“Grimmels are our family’s old friends. They live in the southeast part of the Bloodland.” Len explained. “We have just come here to seek for a shelter.”
“Even if the Grimmels help, they aren’t powerful enough to fight against the Morlettes.” Jim said. “Plus…your father has had conflicts with your uncle and aunt before.”
“Your uncle?” I turned to Len.
“They are dead.” Len said. “They were killed by the Morlettes before I was born. My father has a sister he was pretty close with, as I have heard from Oma. Oma used to hang around with them when they were small. Her name is Winona Morganthe. She married the eldest son of the Grimmel family. My uncle was also one of my father’s playmates when they were young but my father seemed to dislike the marriage. He thought my uncle was too weak to protect my aunt.”
“Your uncle!” Jim exclaimed. “He’s Sir. Antone Grimmel! How can he be weak? I heard he’s the best fighter in this area.”
“But I guess he was still not as strong as my father.” Len continued. “My father loved his sister too much. That’s all. He gave in at last though. Why he conflicted with my aunt later I did not know. Oma never told me about it.”
“Wait a second.” I intruded. “How…did they die?”
I could not understand why I asked so. The questions just popped up in my mind
“I heard my aunt was stabbed in the heart by the enemy and my uncle committed suicide in sorrow after losing her.” Len said.
“I thought blood souls are immune to all kinds of injuries.”
“Not really.” Jim said. “We can be killed by decapitation or being stabbed in the heart. Sometimes, poison can make us lose all our strength and suffer slowly and pass away in the end.”
“I never really blame my father for his lack of attention towards us.” Len said. “Oma has always said after my aunt died, my father lost all his interest in life. His sister meant too much to him and he could not accept the fact that she had passed away. He became a very severe and harsh person afterwards.”
“In short, the Grimmels are the only people who can help us now.” Jim said.