Genna continued her tale, her voice weaving through the ancient stones of the decaying castle. "The Dutch man was a landlord who fell in love with one of his slaves. He took real care of her, even though his entire family strictly opposed his actions. One night, he ran away from home with his beloved slave. They got married. But then she got sick."
"Tragic, isn't it?" Emerald interjected, his tone flat. "But you still haven't answered my question."
"She was on her deathbed with a common pandemic that happened at the time. Eventually, she died. When they landed here, they were both one of us," Genna explained, her voice slowing. "As for the slaves, they were free."
"You still haven't answered what happened to the slaves," Emerald pressed, his gaze unwavering.
"You see, boy, humans are the most ruthless beings in the world, and do you know why?" Genna paused, trying to reel him in. Emerald just stared, offering no words.
Genna continued, "Hunters, that's right, hunters. Hunters came for them. Hunters came for the Donovans. Nature always balances its weight, through calamities, plagues, wars, this and that—the list goes on. And the food cycle was one of them. The heart of a vampire, it fetched quite well for the effort you needed to obtain it. Hunters came for the Donovans, and the village they were part of seemed normal. The hunters were leaving, but humans were greedy for wealth. They wanted more than the freedom they'd been given. They betrayed the man they owed their life to. Sadly, Mrs. Donovan lost her life."
Emerald chuckled, a dry, mirthless sound. "You're always making me the bad guy here. Surely you people are no saints; why don't you tell a tale on that?" he asked, a playful challenge in his voice.
Genna remained calm, refusing to be drawn into his bait. "The Dutch man killed the hunters. He was merciful enough to let the villagers understand their mistakes. But they returned the favor with an armored rebellion. A dog that bites its master, even when it is fed, is no good alive. The Dutch man drained their bodies dry. Oh, I forgot, he painted the portrait of his woman with the blood of newborns. He wanted the humans to know what it took to love someone. He killed eighteen babies that night, burned the whole village down, and vanished somewhere. So tell me, Emerald, who is at fault here, humans or vampires?"
"Emotions. One's emotions," Emerald stated, his voice firm. "You told me a few days ago that you can't blame the group for one's mistake, only the individual can be blamed. But all living things share the same emotions, so it's the emotions which make one a living being who they are, at fault."
Genna gave him a surprised look. "Didn't know you were a philosopher, boy."
Emerald slowly drifted away from Genna, his mind energized by the exploration. He wandered through the castle, discovering new nooks and crannies, his mood surprisingly light. Meanwhile, Genna was busy on her own quest, meticulously searching the castle's depths for any hidden wine, but to no avail.
As they both explored independently, Genna eventually crossed paths with Emerald. "What do you think?" she asked, a hint of vulnerability in her voice. "Am I being a stalker or a burden to you?"
Emerald paused, taking a deep breath. Then, with a smile, he walked out of the room, saying, "I don't 'do' friends, but you're something closer than that, so why bother?" Genna's face flushed crimson, her heart beating a rapid, melodic tune. She was utterly frozen.
Emerald continued his solo exploration for a bit longer before returning to the front of the castle, where Genna was now waiting for him. He sat down on a nearby stone. "You took me to Germany last time, now it's Russia. What are you trying to achieve with all this, sightseeing?" Emerald asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"You don't like humans, do you?" Genna countered, a warm smile playing on her lips.
"I hate the individuality, not the mass," Emerald clarified.
"You really are a nice kid. Can't be bothered by it, after all, you were raised in a nice home. A loving mother, a caring father, and two sisters to put some fight in the territory. Then there are the friends you hang out with, reliable and trustworthy no matter the hardships." As Genna spoke, Emerald's face grew somewhat pale, yet a look of profound realization dawned upon him.
"So, have you ever been called out or honored for the person you are, Emy boy?" Genna continued, breaking Emerald's contemplation.
"Why? Why would anyone be bothered by that? I'm just one in billions, you know, Madam," Emerald replied, his voice tinged with a feigned indifference.
"Why don't you come to our world? For you, I will do anything, kid," Genna stated, her expression serious and unyielding.
"I don't want to be a vampire. For the time being, I want to live as a human and die as one. The offer you made is great, but I have a life, you see, and I know nothing about your world," Emerald responded, a hidden worry gnawing at him, though he kept it from his voice.
"You're free to choose whenever you want. I'll be hanging around here and there; don't try to ignore me though, kid." Genna then began to pull out a package.
Emerald was processing something in his mind. He walked closer to a jasmine plant, its buds nearly ready to sprout, and plucked one. "Madam Genna," he began, turning back to her, "earlier you asked me why humans are the most ruthless beings in the world. I think I know the answer. It's time. Since the beginning, we've played around it. Even now, we let the ones we hurt understand that time can heal the wound, and then we do it again. Even though history has told us our mistakes again and again, we humans just keep repeating them. Humans know our time is short, so no one's going to blame us, no matter the deed. Even if the blame is initiated, how long would it last? It's something I hate to the bone: living the life of a king when you know the guilt he carries is nothing more than chalk that can be wiped away easily with time. You're right, madam, I hate humans, but I love my family and friends, and a lot, lot of others I don't even know."
Genna called him over. "Now, now, have some coffee, boy. Just don't let yourself be taken over by those thoughts."
Emerald took the jasmine in his hand and asked Genna, "No donuts tonight?"
Genna sighed. "Yeah, I got that covered."
"Since you're a vampire, you must be super rich, and the fact you're a noble, you must be a billionaire, right?" Emerald probed.
"Not really, but you could say I am," Genna replied, a hint of shyness in her admission. The wheels were set in motion; Genna's plan was beginning to take shape. Emerald, meanwhile, had already sensed the underlying threat she playfully hinted at by involving his loved ones, recognizing the dangerous path he now faced.
(To be continued)