In science, it's proven that blood is odorless. Until it's exposed to air, oxidation occurs and the metallic scent of blood reacts. For most people, it tends to have a pungent smell — something that could easily make someone's stomach turn.
But there are some who smell roses in it. They find the scent of blood alluring, a tempting aroma writhing on their nostrils.
Some may think it's animals, parasites, or insects. But some would think it's vampires.
Vampires aren't just attracted to the smell of blood. They are attracted to blood, sucking and consuming the life of a human. To sustain thirst and replenish energy, to live longer by the help of human life force.
Sounds tragic.
But there's one more thing that can't resist the smell of blood. Though unlike vampires, they don't need blood. They have the ability to smell blood from miles away. Recognize which human has an alluring blood.
No one knows who they are. No one knows what they can do with this ability. But they like to keep it that way. And you'll soon know the answers to these questions.
A lady in white walked through the hallway, all alarmed and focused. The blaring noise of people around, cars' sirens, yells for help. Those were pretty normal for her. In times like this, an intern always had to be ready.
"Dr. Clair, we need you right here."
The young intern rushed to check the patient, making sure not to waste time.
"There was an explosion on 4th Street; expect an overflow of patients," one of the interns informed.
"I don't know if you're lowkey manifesting that more people got hurt, or you're just being alert."
"Dr. Clair, check this one."
Clair ignored the two interns and went to check another patient. If you were going to ask her, Clair would probably prefer that more patients come. She didn't mind mending people for straight hours.
"I've marked five." A guy walked behind the intern, making her stop momentarily.
"We're counting now, huh?"
"The Barthory won't be happy if we're not." The guy smirked, going back to his patient and leaving the intern to her work.
"D-doc, am I going to live?" the boy asked.
Cassandra looked at her patient and smiled lightly.
"Yes, and you're gonna finish school."
The boy grunted, making Cassandra smile wider. She continued treating every patient... and she continued marking some of them.
After a few hours, Cassandra was almost done. The arrivals of patients had slowed down. Cassandra was about to take her break when she saw a girl standing outside the hospital. What caught her attention was that the girl was bleeding. And yet, she remained still.
"Nurse! Get me a wheelchair, now!" Cassandra ran to the girl and had a worse look at the kid's situation. Yet the kid stood still, looking past her.
"Hey, what's your name? Are you hurt?" Cassandra started to check the kid. She saw bleeding through the girl's right arm and a large cut on the left leg.
"Is he going to live?" the girl asked, still looking inside the glass door, not even sparing a look at the doctor.
Cassandra ignored the question and made the kid sit in the wheelchair, giving orders to the nurse.
"What's your name, kid? Where are your parents?" the nurse asked as she treated the kid.
"I'm Luna."
Cassandra watched the girl intently. The girl didn't even wince or grunt in pain as the nurse cleaned the wound.
"Luna... you don't feel hurt?"
"Not at all."
"Tough one," Cassandra said.
"I'm okay, you don't need to treat me. I'm just here to check on him."
"Who?"
"My dad." She was looking elsewhere again, and the nurse and Cassandra could only share the same look.
"Finish this, I'll try to look if she has relatives among our recent patients."
"Copy, doc."
As Cassandra left to find the kid's father, she was stopped as the guy called her.
"Clair."
"Not now, Tim. I still have a patient." Cassandra was about to go when the guy spoke seriously.
"You know they can't wait, Clair."
Hearing the word "they," Cassandra already had an idea about what the guy was talking about. Without more words, the guy walked first followed by Cassandra, using the fire exit down to the basement.
Along the way, Cassandra remained quiet. Too quiet — even the other doctor felt it wasn't usual.
"You know you can say what's on your mind, right? Not that I'm snitching you to the Barthorys. I'd get nothing out of that anyway."
"So if you'd get something, you'd tell them that I hate how they make us their dogs?"
The other doctor chuckled. Not that he successfully lured Cassandra into his 'trap'. Of all the people like them in the building, Cassandra was the last person who could care less about the Barthorys.
Not that she was arrogant, but she just knew she was untouchable.
"Not a word."
"Of course, I know you hate this too."
As they arrived at the basement, they walked to the very end of the floor, and there it was: the secretary of Barthory.
"Dr. Clair, Dr. Tim."
"Mr. Kwon, good afternoon," the intern doctors greeted.
"How's the number going? The president is expecting a lot today."
"I was able to mark a few. The problem is, how are we going to take them without the other doctors noticing? This is a massive deal, media everywhere," Tim asked.
"Don't worry about it. We already talked to the director of the hospital. What's important is you do your job," the secretary reminded.
"How about you, Dr. Clair?"
"I've got the same number before."
Tim looked at Cassandra. If Cassandra had the same number marked before, that only meant she marked three times more than Tim did.
"Did you do the president's request?"
Tim looked at Cassandra, having no information about what the secretary meant.
Cassandra could only bite the inside of her cheek before she spoke. She was caught off guard, too. She didn't expect the secretary to ask about it in front of others.
"I've chosen great-quality blood, as he's asking for. Harvesting young-quality blood is impossible."
So that's the favor the president was asking for. Tim looked at the secretary, who was obviously not happy.
"Is it? You know that the president is counting."
"I know. And I'll say it again: Class S blood from young ones is impossible to find. It takes time for it to mature."
The secretary could only accept it. As soon as the two doctors submitted the lists of names they'd marked as 'good blood,' the secretary left.
"Why is the president asking you to find Class S blood from younger people?"
"You know exactly why, Tim."
Simple answer. Blood that comes from younger people is much better. They are considered Class S+. Class S are the good blood of living humans. But even if it's considered 'good' or 'Class S,' it's just 90% good when it comes to post-mature living humans.
While young good blood is 99% good. The only problem is, it's impossible to find.
You can now guess what kind of people the president or the secretary are. Well, not ordinary people. They are just one of the many powerful beings that could live and exist among the normal ones.
As for Cassandra and the other doctors in the hospital, they are the 'dogs' of these beings.
They track and collect for them. Otherwise, they don't deserve to live.