Ichor.
It was the golden blood of the gods, said to be thicker than mercury, brighter than the purest gold, and more valuable than any jewel.
Said to be the source of their immortality, strength, power, healing, and more, it was a tonic to those to whom it was freely given, while being toxic to those who coveted it.
Of course, since the gods could not be found and made bleed to test those theories, it was just hearsay.
However-
In humans, there was also a rare blood type with the same name.
Golden Blood.
The blood type that was so rare that it was considered to be a miracle in the medical world, coveted by any who knew of it.
On a planet with a population of over 8 billion people and a long-recorded history, fewer than 50 individuals have been identified as having golden blood.
Whenever it was discovered that an individual had such blood, to those who knew its actual value, it became open season for them to acquire it by any means necessary.
Bribes were paid, wars were fought, and heirs were decided, all to acquire that golden blood.
After it was acquired, what was done with the container was best left in the dark.
These fleeting thoughts quickly passed through Raven Sanguine's mind as his long, pale fingers stared at the photo sitting atop the files on the desk.
It was the photo of two young women, one with the coloring of a sunrise after the deepest night and the other with the coloring of the purest moonlight reflecting upon a dark lake.
Raven's long, pale fingers dragged across the glossy surface of the photo, slicing across the girl on the left to rest upon the one on the right.
His ice-colored eyes took in the girl with fiery red hair, golden skin dotted with faint freckles like constellations, eyes like molten gold, and a striking beauty that could make even a goddess jealous.
It certainly made the girl standing next to her jealous if the pale fingers digging into the golden skin were anything to go by.
"Where?"
Although Raven spoke into a seemingly empty room, a polite voice quickly responded in a posh tone.
"She's currently at her wedding rehearsal dinner, sir."
"And the sister? Purity or chastity or whatever her name is?"
"I believe you mean Katherine SnowLilly. She's also at the wedding rehearsal, sir, along with the groom, while the entire Astor family is relocating to another location. The perimeter is currently secured, and no one else has been allowed to enter."
"Good. Prepare the car and the items we discussed earlier. I'll personally go speak with her and..."
Tapping his fingers on the large ebony desk for several seconds, Raven continued in a lower tone.
"And have the doctors on standby."
"In case of injury, sir? Are you expecting trouble despite our precautions? There's been no movement from the people we're watching."
"Injury? No. I hate assumptions, so I need to personally test the most valuable thing about her."
That golden blood.
"If it's as expected, then we can proceed. If not, she'll not remember the night."
"Yes, sir. Your orders will be fulfilled."